L E G O B R I N G S T H E F O R C E T O T H E H O L I DAY S BY PETER CARAM
L
ucasfilms has rewarded Star Wars fans who made the “nice list” with its amusing new holiday entry into the Star Wars Universe - The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, currently streaming on Disney Plus. The Force is strong enough in this one to entertain both die hard and casual fans. “Hello there,” said young Obi Wan Kenobi. This holiday entry into the universe takes place after The Rise of Skywalker, but it is in Lego animation-style, where the characters are Lego mini-figures instead of real life. The plot of the story is centered around Rey Skywalker training her friend, Finn, to be a Jedi because the final film of the last trilogy foreshadowed Finn being Force Sensitive. Rey begins to question her teaching methods as Finn struggles to learn the Jedi way. Meanwhile, Poe Dameron, Rose Tico, Chewbacca, C-3PO and the other droids are preparing for “Light Day,” which is Christmas in the Star Wars Universe. As her frustration grows, Rey embarks on her own journey - accompanied by BB-8 - to go to an old Jedi temple where she finds a crystal that travels back to previous events that have happened in the saga. All is well until she crosses paths with Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine from the past. Palpatine sends Vader to catch Rey in a time traveling journey. The question is will Rey make it home in time for Light Day with her friends or will Darth Vader catch her and destroy all reality? Nothing from the past has significantly changed, but we do see Vader humorously sporting an ugly Christmas sweater. The animation helps to move the farce along almost winking at the viewer as a reminder to not take things too seriously. I thought this film was enjoyable, not just for kids to enjoy, but for Star Wars fans to enjoy and watch as well. This surprised me because I’m not as big of a fan of animated movies as I was when I was younger, but I am a big action and sci-fi movie guy and this movie spoke to that part of me. My 20
|
TH E ROYA L NEWS
ENTERTA
overall score for this film is a solid 8.1/10 because it honors the history of the Star Wars saga, which has been a big part of my life, having seen all nine films from the Skywalker Saga, plus the spinoff films, the shows and the current entry The Mandalorian. I did find myself wishing at times that the film was live action because I think the sequel trilogy deserved a spin-off film like this after Rise Of Skywalker. I really enjoyed the humor, action and sly references in this film. I would recommend this to any Star Wars fan because although it appears targeted to kids, it ties in well with the Skywalker Saga, the TV shows and everything in the Star Wars Universe. “Do or do not, there is no try,” Yoda famously instructed Luke. For casual fans and diehards alike, seeing this fun-filled holiday entry to the universe should be a “do.”
Everyone should be “forced” to watch the Star Wars Holiday Special
