Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

It's all over. The end of an era. And you know what? It was all pretty damn great. As the rare movie fan who was never obsessed with Star Wars I'm very much pleased with the final film in the Skywalker saga. The Force Awakens was nostalgic fun and a great reinvention of familiarity. The Last Jedi took a fun detour by subverting our expectations. And The Rise of Skywalker is delicious comfort food that rights the ship for those who thought the previous entry went too far off course but is still satisfying for those who liked the risks that were taken. 

Episode IX is an absolute blast and it's mostly because I've truly fallen in love with the characters we've gotten to know since Episode VII. Seeing Rey, Poe, and Finn flying spaceships, and swinging light sabers, and getting chased by storm troopers is an absolute blast. Again we get to witness the Resistance continue to attempt to defeat the New Order with Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) being as conflicted as ever and Rey (Daisy Ridley) near completing her Jedi training with General Leia (Carrie Fisher). The film's plot allows for most of the main heroes to be all together for once instead of everyone off on their own mission which is fun. Further revelations about the characters are fine, though not completely shocking, but I think at this point we're a far cry from "I am your father" plot twists. Thoroughly entertaining, fun, and emotionally satisfying, JJ Abrams and company cap off this third trilogy on a high note even if it doesn't offer the same twists, subversiveness, and style of its predecessor.  GRADE: A-