Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the results have been mixed. There have been iconic films, but also ones that divided the fanbase. That’s a big part of the reason we haven’t seen Star Wars on the big screen since 2019.

The world has also been built out on the small screen, with numerous series kicking off since Disney+ launched in 2019. The first, and arguably most successful, of those series is The Mandalorian, which comes from Jon Favreau. The series was a phenomenon for its first two seasons, though its popularity waned a bit by the time its third season debuted in 2023.

But what happens when a popular TV series makes its way to the big screen? It’s been three years since the last season aired, and now The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu are back in a big screen adventure.

The film finds The Mandalorian and Grogu working for the New Republic. Grogu is learning as an apprentice, while The Mandalorian is employed to track down Imperial War Criminals. We open with him tracking down one such target, as things go off the rails and it turns into an all-out fire fight.

After dispatching that first target, he returns to base where Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) puts him on to a new target. It’s a mysterious commander for whom the New Republic doesn’t even have a picture. He’s sent to the Hutts, who have offered information on the target. But first, they need The Mandalorian to do a job.

He’s charged with recovering their nephew, Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White), Jabba’s son and heir to his empire. But when The Mandalorian arrives, things aren’t as they seem. Rotta is being used as a champion in the fighting pit, but he doesn’t view himself as a captive. Instead, he shares it’s his chance to break free from his family.

When The Mandalorian learns of secret danger, he’s forced to intervene, finding clues to his real target along the way. But as he gets to know Rotta, he can’t bring himself to complete his charge, putting him and Grogu in the crosshairs of The Hutts.

The fun of the series was the weekly bounty hunter missions and the interactions between The Mandalorian and Grogu. It makes sense, in continuing the series, that this would be like an expanded version of that premise. But it also makes for something of a tough sell when it comes to the big screen experience fans are used to from Star Wars. The stakes and scope feel a bit smaller here, even if the action is near constant and it’s a fun ride.

I am a big fan of the series. I love Grogu and the wonder of the character, and we get some decent development of his journey here, too. There’s also plenty of great action, a bit of comedy, and some fun new worlds and creatures. That feels like most of the recipe for a solid Star Wars outing.

For the most part, this is enjoyable. If you were a fan of the series, this will be a fun two-hour ride on the big screen. I enjoyed following our heroes, and I enjoyed Weaver and Rotta as voiced by Jeremy Allen White. It’s not a deep or complicated film, and it’s among the best or most iconic Star Wars films, but it’s a fun enough summer ride.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.