Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the (supposedly) conclusive chapter IX in the Skywalker Saga, a film series now spanning an incredible 40+ years. The film picks up some time after The Last Jedi and finds The Resistance struggling to survive in the shadow of a new threat. The Emperor (Ian McDiarmid) has reemerged and is demanding galactic fealty, and now-Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) resents the competition. Rey (Daisy Ridley) is undergoing additional Jedi training overseen by a new master, while Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac) have been working with a mole in the First Order.  If the Emperor cannot be neutralized, the forces of good may be extinguished forever.

Importantly, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker acknowledges the legacy it has been built upon. The film shines when its frenetic pace slows to allow more thoughtful moments. The filmmakers face an impossible task—trying to satisfyingly bookend a 40 year history in 140 minutes. And the core team of new heroes and villains (Boyega, Ridley, Isaac, and Adam Driver as Kylo Ren) certainly have a strong desire to stick the landing. Their commitment to the story arcs constructed before them is admirable. The inclusion of older, familiar faces such as General Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams with charisma to spare) and others that this review won’t spoil is a sugary treat that helps the rest go down.

RELATED: Star Wars: The Skywalkers Aren’t Done After Episode IX?

Audiences with high expectations for an epic, cohesive capstone to the previous eight canonical films may not enjoy Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as much as those who would be satisfied with one more roller-coaster ride in a galaxy far, far away. What becomes painfully apparent quite quickly is that producer Kathleen Kennedy did not successfully manage the overall narrative of the new trilogy. Unlike other properties within said studio, one is not left with the feeling that a singular, unified story has been building to (and earning) this conclusion. There is obvious tension between J.J. Abrams’ and Rian Johnson’s visions of who the key characters are and what the nature of The Force is. As such, The Rise of Skywalker feels, at best, like a good story-of-the-week that was shoehorned into a series finale. It is unlikely to fully satisfy fans who have yearned for a grandiose sendoff for their cherished characters. The sloppy editing and poor writing are indicative of a business-mandated release schedule rather than a creative team given the time and resources to craft a perfect ending.

Criticisms of this newest trilogy have been plentiful. The Force Awakens, while delightful, was scorned for being a near carbon-copy of A New Hope. But it was still fun. The Last Jedi swung the pendulum the other direction and was derided for veering too drastically from the central tenets of beloved characters and themes. But it was still engaging and sparked intriguing and thoughtful discussion (this reviewer chooses to ignore all the toxicity). The Rise of Skywalker is neither. Years from now people will remember Rey piloting the Millennium Falcon through a downed Star Destroyer on Jakku and telling Finn to stop taking her hand. We will also recall Vice Admiral Holdo initiating lightspeed through the enemy command ship with zero sound, and Luke brushing the dust off his shoulder while staring down the First Order with a laser sword. But regrettably little will be remembered about The Rise of Skywalker, and therein lays the disappointment. The fans and the franchise deserved better.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker suffers from a lack of long-term vision. It attempts to cobble together a story and character developments that are unfortunately unearned, and thus unsatisfactory. It commits the greatest sin imaginable—it misses its opportunity to give the Skywalkers the farewell they deserve. If one judges a film on its ability to execute on what it is attempting, regretfully The Rise of Skywalker fails.

Recommended if you enjoyed: The Godfather: Part III; Terminator: Dark Fate; Star Trek: Into Darkness

FINAL GRADE: C-

Author’s Note: Chris Reynolds, Ph.D. contributed to this review, providing expert wisdom and insight.

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