3 Things Parents Should Know about ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’

A Big-Screen Spinoff of a Hit TV Series

The film – as you may already know – is based not on characters from the nine canonical films but instead on figures first introduced in the Disney Plus series The Mandalorian. That series, which has aired for three seasons, follows the story of a lone bounty hunter named Din Djarin as he protects and travels alongside Grogu, the Force-sensitive child nicknamed “Baby Yoda” by fans.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is set in the years following Return of the Jedi and the death of Darth Vader, but before The Force Awakens, with the Empire in ruins and the Rebels working to ensure it never rises again. At the beginning of the film, viewers learn through on-screen text that warlords loyal to the former Empire are scattered throughout the galaxy and plotting its return, while supporters of the Republic – now known as the “New Republic” – are struggling to reunite a fractured galaxy. The Mandalorian, of course, sides with the New Republic.

The plot of The Mandalorian and Grogu is relatively simple: The Mandalorian and Grogu are traveling the galaxy to track down Imperial fugitives and trying to prevent the remnants of the old Empire from regaining power.

“Long live the empire!” an Imperial loyalist says early in the film.

Photo Credit: ©Disney

Familiar Star Wars-Style Action

During a Hollywood era in which beloved franchises are increasingly drifting into more adult-oriented territory, the Star Wars universe, thankfully, has remained within the PG- and PG-13-style boundaries that families have come to expect – even if the violence has grown somewhat more intense and the creatures more realistic and prominent. The franchise has avoided sexual content and even innuendo, while keeping coarse language minimal to nonexistent.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is rated PG-13 for “sci-fi violence and action,” and it follows the franchise’s (mostly) family-friendly formula, delivering plenty of blaster battles, explosions and intimidating aliens without venturing into overly graphic territory.

Give Disney credit for remembering that Star Wars still is, at its core, a family franchise.

Still, there are a few scenes parents may want to know about. An Empire sympathizer kills an unarmed man at point-blank range in the opening moments of the film. Midway through the story, the Mandalorian is forced into a gladiator-style battle arena where he fights an acquaintance along with multiple alien creatures that resemble monsters from a mild sci-fi horror film. We see an alien-like slug creature being tortured. Finally, a massive fanged snake – one far larger than the Empire State Building – also appears and devours several creatures in a sequence that feels reminiscent of Jurassic Park.

Of course, the film also contains more blaster battles and explosions than one can count. Children who are sensitive to intense action or creature violence may want to skip this one.

Photo Credit: ©Disney

An Unfamiliar Star Wars Tone

Warning: spoilers ahead!

The on-screen text at the beginning of the film is promising for viewers eager to revisit the classic good-vs.-evil spirit and embrace the nostalgia that has long defined Star Wars – a fallen Empire is plotting its return, and a super-cool armored warrior, the Mandalorian, is determined to stop it. Unfortunately, the plot simply does not deliver – and I say that as a lifelong Star Wars fan who has stood in line for midnight premieres and even defended (and enjoyed) the sequel trilogy that so many fans rejected.

The Mandalorian’s first assignment takes him to the heirs of the criminal empire once ruled by Jabba the Hutt, whose son, Rotta the Hutt, has gone missing and reportedly is being held on the moon of Sarkhai. Jabba’s successors promise the Mandalorian that if he rescues Rotta, they will provide critical information about the Imperial warlords he has been trying to find.

The Mandalorian eventually finds Rotta – but the two ultimately unite in opposition to the Empire, with Rotta insisting he supports the Rebels and has no desire to follow in his infamous father’s footsteps. Eventually, though, the Mandalorian is captured – prompting Grogu and a band of tiny Anzellans to set out on a mission to rescue him.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is missing everything that made the Star Wars franchise popular: high stakes, an unforgettable villain (think Darth Vader, Darth Maul, the Emperor or Kylo Ren), and deeper themes surrounding the Force. Its soundtrack relies not on the memorable John Williams-style orchestral sound fans associate with Star Wars but instead leans into an ’80s-style synth score that seems out of place in this universe. And the Hutt family speaks English rather than the alien language longtime fans are accustomed to hearing alongside on-screen subtitles.

Ultimately, the film feels like three average streaming episodes stitched together and projected onto the big screen. The first season of The Mandalorian – which was excellent – may have been worthy of a movie. This story, though, was not.

Of course, families don’t always go to the theater solely for masterful storytelling – they go for shared experiences, popcorn, and two hours of escape from the real world. On that level, the film succeeds. My 10-year-old enjoyed it, and I suspect plenty of other children will, too.

Finally, here is my updated ranking of all 12 live-action Star Wars films: 1a. The Empire Strikes Back, 1b. A New Hope, 3. The Force Awakens, 4. The Rise of Skywalker, 5. The Last Jedi, 6. Return of the Jedi, 7a. Rogue One, 7b. Solo, 9. Revenge of the Sith, 10. The Phantom Menace, 11. Attack of the Clones, 12. The Mandalorian and Grogu.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action. Coarse language: Rot in h-ll (1).

Entertainment rating: 2 out of 5 stars.

Family-friendly rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Photo Credit: ©Disney