There were a few reasons to worry about Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Like Rogue One before it, creative differences within the production process resulted in extensive reshoots (although it must be said: Rogue One turned out great.
In the case of Solo, though, they even had to swap directors midway, parting with 21 Jump Street‘s Phil Lord and Chris Miller to enlist Ron Howard, whose reshoots of Solo are said to comprise 70 percent of the final cut.
There’s also matter of Alden Ehrenreich, who many feared would not be able to live up to Harrison Ford’s ownership of the character—or perhaps that Ford owned the character so well that no one would ever be able to wrest it from him.
It seemed like the only thing that was unanimously exciting about the film was Donald Glover’s Lando Calrissian. (Okay, Emilia Clarke too. Definitely.)
But just hours ago, after the film’s world premiere in Los Angeles, first reactions to the film have begun to surface. (Full reviews have been embargoed until May 15 in the States.)
Based on these initial reactions, it seems all our worries were for nought. Audiences loved it, and are especially enthusiastic about the film’s treatment of the heist genre, as well as Alden Ehrenreich’s Han Solo.
We’ll let them speak for themselves:
There’s Collider’s Perri Nemirof:
There’s some fun to be had with #SoloAStarWarsStory. Ehrenreich was solid and really enjoyed Glover and Waller-Bridge as L3, but not convinced we needed a young Han Solo movie. Was really hoping for higher stakes, more energy and depth.
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) May 11, 2018
Rotten Tomatoes’ editor-in-chief, Joel Meares:
Wow. Just come out of #SoloAStarWarsStory and can confirm it’s kinda a blast. @donaldglover was as perfect as expected, but Alden Ehrenreich has swagger to match, and spare.
— Joel Meares (@joelmeares) May 11, 2018
IndieWire’s Film Editor Kate Erbland:
#SoloAStarWarsStory: It takes a bit for it to find its feet and for AE to turn on enough charm to make you forget he’s not HF. But once it kicks into its hey-let’s-make-a-crew and yes-also-do-a-heist stuff, it totally flies.
— Kate Erbland (@katerbland) May 11, 2018
Nerdist’s Michelle Buchman:
I loved #SoloAStarWarsStory so much. It’s a western. A caper. Funny with so much heart. It’s got so much surprises that fans are going to love. Donald Glover is charming x1000. Alden Ehrenreich is a great #HanSolo and just know I’ve been saying this for years! Fave new #StarWars.
— Michelle Buchman (@michelledeidre) May 11, 2018
