Sunday, June 10, 2018

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018) - Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke


Released:  2018
Director:     Ron Howard
Writers:      Johnathan Kasdan, Lawrence Kasdan
Actors:       Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clark, Woody Harrelson, Paul Bettany

I love Ron Howard’s directing.  While featuring the fancy techno gadgetry which makes this a wonderful CGI movie, he manages to keep the storyline focused on the characters.  He brings us a movie peopled with characters experiencing romance, betrayed loyalties, and life-and-death adventures.

Alden Ehrenreich takes on the challenging task of portraying Harrison Ford’s character of Han Solo as a young man.  Yes, he conveys the charm, the derring-do courage, and the flamboyant impulses of a true hero… but, darn it, I miss Ford’s self-mocking bravado which makes him so likable.

Granted, it’s not fair to compare the two characterizations, so let’s allow young Ehrenreich a little leeway.  Let’s consider that maybe young Solo hasn’t experienced enough near-death adventures yet to warrant the self-mockery.

Emilia Clarke is persuasive as a young girl blindly adoring the young Solo; she is also quite credible as a mature woman whose personal experiences have taught her the harsh realities of survival. Woody Harrelson is snaky and deceitful in this movie, and Paul Bettany makes a villain we love to hate.  I’m so happy that Joonas Suotamo was given the chance to flesh out his Chewbacca character in this story.  We come to understand his blind loyalty to Solo, and it makes him more lovable than ever.

The Kasdan writers have done a great job keeping the storyline simple enough to follow without losing its Star Wars essence.  What a great idea to create a back story depicting the adventures which shape Han Solo into a fabulous hero.

This is a fun movie that will please enthusiasts of all ages.

TAGS:  Solo; Woody Harrelson, Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Joonas Suotamo, Paul Bettany