It’s fair to say the recent Star Wars films have divided opinion amongst its loyal base of fans. The original films of the late 1970s and early 1980s hold a special place in the hearts of so many of us, while the new films have received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. Having been a shade disappointed with the recent Star Wars films, I went to see ‘Solo’ with an open mind, hoping the new cast would inject some much-needed originality into the series. Well the film won’t be winning any awards, however it proved to be a fun ride, certainly better than some of the scathing reviews would have you believe.

It’s worth acknowledging the troubles this film faced in the shooting and editing process. As soon as the original directors – Phil Lord and Chris Miller – finished shooting their version of the film, they were sacked and replaced by Ron Howard. There were numerous reports suggesting the release date of the film would have to be put back after Howard wanted to reshoot large parts of the film. Whatever happened behind the scenes, the film hit cinemas on the original release date, much to the relief of the millions of fans who have been looking forward to the latest intergalactic adventure.

‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ gives us the backstory to one of the most loved characters in the history of film. Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford in four Star Wars films, is an epic character, a cool daredevil who, alongside his trusty pal Chewbacca, builds up the kind of on-screen chemistry that only the best actors are able to pull off. The task facing Alden Ehrenreich, who plays the young Han Solo in this film, is a huge one. What made Ford’s Han Solo so likeable was his mischievous nature and self-assured swagger. Ehrenreich tries his best to replicate Ford’s on-screen presence, but there is a sense that he’s facing a losing battle. He comes across a bit wooden at times, he’s not Harrison Ford, but then again, who is? His relationship with Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian (played by the excellent Donald Glover) stand out as particular highlights. It’s also worth mentioning the roles that Paul Bettany and Woody Harrelson play in this film. Bettany’s portrayal as villainous Dryden Vos is impressive and Harrelson’s role as Solo’s crime mentor is a solid performance.

As we follow Han Solo and his band of criminals across the universe, it’s easy to draw comparisons with a pirate or western film. There’s action, romance and some great scenes involving new characters. Unlike every other Star Wars film, there’s no major battle or lightsaber duel in ‘Solo’, which is a welcome addition. More emphasis is given to character development, which has been lacking from the recent Star Wars films.

The main problem with prequels is that they remove the mystique of beloved characters. Less is more, and the more of Han Solo’s backstory that LucasFilm chooses to fill in for us, an air of mystery gets removed. No matter what happens to Han Solo, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, and the Millennium Falcon in’ Solo’, they’re going to be fine, because we know they appear later down the line in a string of films. That’s not to say this film isn’t worth seeing, there’s a lot of fun scenes and the actors do a good job in providing the audience with the odd laugh.

The film spends over two hours getting from the start of Solo’s journey of self-discovery to a viable end point. It’s a story that lends well to a sequel, whether that happens is another question though, based on the early disappointing box office sales.