EDITOR’S NOTE: This review is as spoiler-free as humanly possible. There is nothing referenced that isn’t in the trailers, and the plot summary is a basic synopsis of the setup and general premise of the movie.
We’ve felt this excitement before, which went rather unfulfilled in the prequel trilogy: “The Phantom Menace” (1999), “Attack of the Clones” (2002) and “Revenge of the Sith” (2005). So, the single biggest joy of “The Force Awakens” is going in with tempered expectations and then, scene by scene, watching J.J. Abrams exceed them on his way to creating the best “Star Wars” flick in 35 years.
It’s no stretch to say that “The Force Awakens” just nudged past “Return of the Jedi” (1983), slaying Jabba the Hutt and stomping those mangy Ewoks to enter the franchise Top 3, behind the trailblazing original “Star Wars” (1977) and the superior sequel “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980), which deserves the top spot for giving us Yoda and the biggest twist of a movie line: “I am your father.”
“The Force Awakens” strikes back with its own juicy twists, but what’s the fun in revealing those? In fact, that’s downright mean. You won’t find any plot spoilers here; let’s just lay out the basic premise. Thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new army of evil rises: The First Order. It’s led by the dark-helmeted Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), who takes his orders from Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis in motion capture), together giving off a Darth Vader-Emperor Palpatine vibe.
Desperately seeking a star-map that contains the location of the mythical Jedi master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the evil empire ransacks a village on the planet Jakku. Stormtrooper number FN-2187 aka Finn (John Boyega) is appalled by the carnage and defects to join Resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), scrappy scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) and a BB-8 droid, crossing paths with Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and General Leia (Carrie Fisher).
That’s all you need to know of the plot. To say anything more would certainly disturb The Force.
It must have been hard for George Lucas to hand over his baby, but director J.J. Abrams is the right man for the job, having successfully relaunched another beloved sci-fi franchise with “Star Trek” (2009) and “Star Trek: Into Darkness” (2013). “The Force Awakens” does for “Star Wars” what “Creed” did for the “Rocky” franchise, proving that “Part 7” can actually be lucky number seven.
The secret lies in Abrams’ rare ability to introduce compelling new heroes while providing just the right amount of callbacks to satisfy our nostalgic needs. The most obvious callbacks involve the familiar faces of famous characters, allowing us to revel in Chewy’s Wookiee howls, Leia’s braided-hair and Solo’s sarcastic quips. It’s one of Ford’s most memorable performances in years.
Far more rewarding are the more subtle references, be it relics of old vehicles, homages to music cues, classic hand gestures, or similar settings. You may not recognize Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata, but her bizarre saloon will give you déjà vu to Chalmun’s Cantina in the 1977 original. It’s these throwback moments that reveal the touch of co-writer Lawrence Kasdan (“Empire Strikes Back”).
Still, this sucker can’t be fueled by fond memories alone. “Episode VII” feels alive in its own right, moving from setpiece to setpiece so swiftly that we can’t believe it’s over by the time the end credits roll. Was that really 2 hours and 16 minutes? Can we start it over immediately and watch it again?
This urgency is, in part, due to the surprising amount of buddy-comedy banter, no doubt the product of co-writer Michael Arndt, who won an Oscar for penning “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006) and cowrote the buddy antics of Buzz Lightyear and Woody in the Oscar-winning “Toy Story 3” (2010).
While the banter is great, the back story explanations could have used more restraint. If there is one flaw in the “Force Awakens” script, it’s the occasional dip into obvious exposition. As much as we love seeing movie idols like Ford and Fisher, much of their “serious” dialogue is beneath them. It’s almost as if the screenwriters coasted with the veterans and saved the best stuff for the rising young stars.
Which is where the compelling new characters come in, saving the day by elevating “Episode VII” into a truly memorable experience rather than something overly derivative. These new heroes and villains are captivating because they’re morally conflicted on the page, yet brought to life by arguably the best top-to-bottom, cross-generational cast in the history of the franchise.
Adam Driver is a menacing foe, shocking in his tantrums and torn between good and evil. When we first see him, we worry his “dark helmet” persona reeks of either “Spaceballs” self-parody or stale copycat syndrome, but these concerns are eased when we see the source of his obsession. As Driver lays his hands on other actors — either in a death grip, or a touching hand on the cheek — we know the world is about to discover Driver’s talent after “Girls” (2012) and “Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013).
Speaking of which, it’s nice to see an actor the caliber of Oscar Isaac aboard the “Star Wars” franchise. The guy is one of today’s finest actors — deserving accolades for “Ex Machina” (2015) — so it only stands to reason that he appear alongside Max von Sydow in a sort of passing of the torch.
Still, the real diamonds in the rough are a pair of Brits, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, both welcome additions to the series. Dubbed the “Jackie Robinson of Jedis,” Boyega is the conscience of the movie, his morality evolving with a sort of everyman quality. Meanwhile, Ridley steals the show as the symbolically-named Rey. Her credits may only include various short films and little-known TV series, but by the end of “Force Awakens,” you’ll shout: Who is this gem and where did she come from? As Katniss Everdeen departs our multiplexes, Rey provides a ray of “new hope” for screen heroines.
Hats off to Abrams for plucking these “daisies” out of obscurity and introducing them as major movie stars, similar to the rise of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto after “Star Trek.” Abrams’ steady hand is apparent throughout, sculpting action that’s easy to follow, using practical effects for lightsaber battles and CGI when necessary for fighter-pilot dogfights between the X-Wings and TIE Fighters.
Abrams again reunites with cinematographer Daniel Mindel, who shot both of his “Star Trek” flicks, delivering a product without shaky cameras, distracting effects or too many of their trademark lens flares. It’s less flashy and more graceful filmmaking, building to a brilliant final shot with all the visual majesty of a Peter Jackson epic and enough plot ramifications to ignite fan debate until “Episode VIII” arrives on May 26, 2017 (By the way, why not release it on “May the 4th?” Just saying).
In the end, the movie overwhelmingly works because it understands what Lucas always knew, that audiences crave classic mythology. The strongest throughline of “Force Awakens” is the young stars’ debate as to whether Luke, Leia and Han Solo actually exist. Are there really such things as Jedis? Or is this space western a case of Liberty Valance: “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend?”
Lucas was always in the business of mythmaking. As he told WTOP at last week’s Kennedy Center Honors, “It’s got mythical roots and psychological motifs that relate to everybody and have for thousands of years.” Re-watch the saga and you’ll detect shreds of The Odyssey, Oedipus, Beowulf, Arthurian legend and the comparative work of American mythologist Joseph Campbell.
After all, what is The Force if not a religion? What is The Dark Side if not a classic study of good and evil? And what are Empires and Resistances if not a study of the oppressed vs. the oppressors?
For 38 years, Lucas has appealed to our deepest subconscious desires, exploring themes of lineage, the spiritual realm and the free will to choose between the darkness and the light. Now, for the first time, Lucas must sit back and let go like a proud parent watching his child try to stand on its own.
“It becomes a new experience. It’s not like you had to work your way through it and you know where all the mistakes are and you know everything. You just get to watch the movie and enjoy it,” he says.
Welcome to our side of the screen, sir. The view from the audience is amazing. “The Force Awakens” should make you a proud parent. We’re all children of “Star Wars,” and Mr. Lucas, you are our father.
