11 Reasons You're Wrong About Solo: A Star Wars Story

For a series that doesn't care about odds, this film sure overcame them.

by Ewan Paterson
Disney

No matter how you look at it, Solo: A Star War Story hasn't had the easiest of journeys. Talk of a troubled production, the departures of directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller and then all the hubub surrounding its supposedly disappointing box-office have all coalesced to paint a picture of a film that's had to overcome everything in order to succeed, only to fall - ostensibly - at the final hurdle.

But Solo doesn't fall when it most matters. Instead, it makes the jump to hyperspace with a compelling narrative, some fantastic performances and an equally fantastic aesthetic spearheaded by Bradford Young. Yes, it might not reach the dizzying heights of Rogue One or The Last Jedi, but it is irresistible once it gets going, providing a trip to a galaxy far, far away that's sure to provoke as much as it will excite.

There are obvious flaws to note of course; all too often the film takes the easy option when it comes to fan service, but it’s not bad by any stretch. The fact the film even exists is something to marvel at, and with disaster having been prophesied for months on end, the cast and crew of Solo should all hold their heads up high, and bask in a job well done.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

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Content Producer/Presenter

WhatCulture's very own resident movie guy, Ewan has been working in the content creation biz for over 10 years now, having started as a freelance contributor to WhatCulture Gaming all the way back in 2015. After graduating with a First-Class Honours in History from Northumbria University in 2017 (where he won a prize for a totally killer dissertation on the Watergate years), Ewan took on the role of Comics Editor at WhatCulture and quickly developed WhatCulture Comics into one of the biggest superhero-focused channels on YouTube. He followed this with a brief hiatus at Screen Rant in 2021, where he worked across the Gaming and Film sections as a writer and editor, before returning to WhatCulture as a Senior Content Producer / Presenter in 2023. He started his own podcast, We Love Dad Movies, in 2022, and has contributed several written pieces to the Eisner-nominated comics website Shelfdust as well. In his current role, Ewan incorporates his love of cinema, comic books, and history into written pieces and video essays for WhatCulture's Film & TV channel, as well as WhatCulture Gaming and WhatCulture Horror, with a particular focus on nineties-era Dad Movies, old school Westerns, and Golden Age Hollywood Noir. John Carpenter is his fave, and he thinks Batman Beyond should never have been cancelled. If that's your vibe, you'll probably like his stuff.