Ever since “Star Wars” made its home on Disney+, the franchise has stagnated, serving up the same self-serious space-Western schlock with different-colored lightsabers. Luckily, Christopher Ford and Jon Watts’s “Skeleton Crew” is a refreshing departure from recent, repetitive performances, offering ’80s-family-flick-style thrills.
The story of “Skeleton Crew” is based on the events of “Return of the Jedi”, when the Empire was defeated, and the New Republic took control of the preservation of peace throughout the galaxy. On the planet Atene (perhaps the most “suburb” of planets in this future universe), a grade-school kid named Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) is obsessed with stories of the Jedi and couldn’t care less about his academic duties. . Or growing up for that matter. He longs for adventure beyond pretend play with his blue trunks-muzzled best friend Neil (Robert Timothy Smith) or feeling neglected at home with his widower father Wendell (Tunde Adebimpe), who works rather than cares for him. Gives priority to. The same sentiment applies to another pair of best friends, a rebellious girl named Fern (Ryan Kierra Armstrong) and her thoughtful best friend KB (Kiryana Crater), who are both bored with their mundane suburban lives.
Due to unfortunate circumstances Wim and Fern cross paths outside the principal’s office. He accidentally tells Fern that he found an abandoned Jedi temple in a ditch while on his way to school. Later that day, Wim recruits Neil to help him explore the temple. However, they encounter Fern and KB. Together, they discover that what they found was an abandoned starship. They restart a dusty droid named SM33 (Nick Frost) while searching for the ship, and then Wim impulsively presses a button to launch the starship into space.
Now the children are lost, millions of miles from home. SM 33 transports them to the only place he knows, a landing base filled with aggressive pirates. There, they meet Crimson Jack (Jude Law), a mysterious rogue with superpowers. Additionally, they discover that Atin is not a planet at all, but a “lost planet of eternal treasure”, rarely seen on any map of the galaxy. The kids make a deal with Jack to help them get home in exchange for a reward. With three episodes to go, “Skeleton Crew” is off to an intriguing start.
For a “Star Wars” series involving kids, the group’s classic youthful behavior adds both an authenticity and a nostalgic feel. Writers/showrunners Christopher Ford and Jon Watts successfully capture the classic Amblin Entertainment aesthetic as the story and childlike whimsy create a “The Goonies”-like atmosphere.
It highlights what made this series essential in the 70s and 80s. Children around the world have imagined themselves joining a “Star Wars” adventure, and the show captures that sense of wonder. Watching a child on a ship or fending for themselves in dangerous terrain is very gratifying, and the writers get great mileage out of making these kids feel natural to the universe. There’s a good balance of making it feel like the kids are in real danger, but not anything that would feel traumatizing to a young viewer.
The ensemble cast is also pretty charming, with Jude Law coming off as this sketchy criminal turned reluctant employee of literal children. That said, Wim’s character gradually becomes the most troublesome of the crew. He starts off strong as a typical child hero seeking thrills, but when placed with Neil and the others his immature ego becomes apparent. He is often at fault for every conflict that occurs and never accepts it, constantly crying or complaining. I understand that Wim is a child, but it is quite disappointing to follow him compared to other members of the crew who seem to have self-control or act selflessly. Wim and Neil are similar to Greg and Rowley from the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, which is possibly the most toxic friendship in family media.
Although I hope the series improves on Vim’s characterization in its next episodes, “Skeleton Crew” is a charming “Star Wars” entry that finally provides a fresh dose of freshness to the franchise and a better introduction to the franchise for younger audiences. Had this series been around during my childhood, I would have quickly become a “Star Wars” fan.
Three episodes were shown for review. Now on Disney+.