‘Solo’ is quick-paced, simple summer action

I reviewed the new "Star Wars" movie for Spokane Public Radio. Here is a transcription:

No movie franchise has created more of its own mythology than what George Lucas produced with “Star Wars.” Drawing on virtually every aspect of 20th-century cinema, from theme and tone to character and crisis, Lucas made a simple story of good triumphing over evil into something that strives to carry all the weight of Greek literature.

Imagine if Homer had written science fiction and you’ll understand what I mean.

Not that Lucas can be compared to great literature in any way except for, perhaps, the intent that he gradually developed after his first movie – released in 1977 – proved more successful than even he imagined. From that humble beginning, Lucas has forged a whole mythos that has spawned not just the original trilogy, but a prequel trilogy, a sequel trilogy (the final installment of which is set for a 2019 release), a TV series, lines of toys, novels, video games, theme-park attractions and, to date, three stand-alone films.

The most recent of those latter films is titled “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and is an origin tale of one of Lucas’ most popular characters, the self-styled space pirate Han Solo – an arrogant narcissist who, true to his hero/antihero basis, ends up being one of the main figures in the Rebellion that brings down the Empire.

Long before that occurs, though, Han is just … well, Han, a guy living hand to mouth on the planet Corellia and trying to get off any way possible. After hatching a plan with his partner Qi’ra, Han does escape – but not in the way he expected and certainly the life he is forced to endure then is not the one he wants.

But mostly through brashness, he connects with a band of actual outlaws – led by the space mobster Tobias Beckett – and through him gets connected with his new best friend, the Wookie Chewbacca, reconnected with an old friend, and working for – more or less – the criminal enterprise Crimson Dawn.

All of this was originally outlined by “The Lego Movie” co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. But following their firing for "creative differences," producer Kathleen Kennedy brought in Ron Howard as a fixer. Whoever was responsible, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” unveils at breakneck speed: seldom slowing down for any viewer but the most “Star Wars”-literate to comprehend much more than a simple he’s-good-he’s-bad-shoot-fast-and-speed-off storyline.

But in this era of neo-mythology, where the likes of comic books such as “The Avengers” and young-adult novels such as “Harry Potter” are considered to be – by popular vote anyway – the modern equivalents of great storytelling, the simple adventure basis of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” feels just fine.

The casting helps. “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke effectively embodies Qi’ra, as do Woody Harrelson as Beckett and Donald Glover as a glam-happy Lando Calrissian. Playing Han, Alden Ehrenreich may not capture quite the swagger of a young Harrison Ford, but he does manage to imbue his Han with a callowness that at least hints of emotional depth.

Ehrenreich’s Han may not be Odysseus, but – then – he hardly needs to be.