Solo: A Star Wars Story – Take a Friend!

This film is the back-story of Han Solo.  If you are a fan of the series, you should definitely see it.  It's exciting, the ensemble cast is terrific, and it has an interesting plot.  Some critics think this movie was "unnecessary," but I vehemently disagree.  (First of all, I thought his first name was Hans, when it turns out to be Han!)  Solo was not his birth name either.  (If that information isn't necessary, then neither is a toothbrush!) Han (Alden Ehrenreich) and his girlfriend, Qi'Ra (Emelia Clarke of Game of Thrones - just about every man's heart-throb) are prisoners on a mining planet where they are worked to the bone.  They desperately want to escape their horrible circumstances.  All kinds of exciting stuff happens from there, but I don't want to spoil the plot.  Han Solo fans, however, will learn critical information, including how Han met Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), and how Han won the "Millennium Falcon" from it's original owner, Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover).  Learning all this is so mind-blowing that I don't know how I ever lived my life up to now without knowing it! Ron Howard does his usual fine job directing.  The movie has a nice pace and plenty of humor, too.  If you are in the mood for a fun summer ride, catch this one before it takes off into hyper-drive!