Going away from the traditional sequels/prequels still feels pretty weird in the world of Star Wars. Granted, the first time Disney took a chance by going off-book and released Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), audiences were both amazed and pleasantly surprised at this bold new direction. Solo: A Star Wars Story is the second foray into going backwards and tapping into the legacy of the this storied franchise while building on what is already in place. Going back to explore the origins of one of the more morally ambiguous characters could prove to be an interesting and entertaining journey.

Han (Alden Ehrenreich) and Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) are star-crossed lovers hoping to get a break by escaping the oppressive world they’ve come to know on Corellia. Instead, the couple is torn apart and sent on different paths that neither saw coming. Han Solo finds himself mixed up with a group of smugglers, led by the wily Beckett (Woody Harrelson) who would also become Han’s mentor of sorts.

Another majorly impactful character that comes into the picture is none other than the smooth and charismatic Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover). Another bond that comes together is that of Chewbacca, who comes into Han’s life in a very unexpected way. Coming together on a swashbuckling adventure, Beckett, Han and company must navigate many obstacles including the crime lord known as Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany). This story takes some wild and somewhat surprising twists and turns as a young Han Solo begins to grow into his own.

Ron Howard and team are very fortunate to have such an interesting muse from which to draw inspiration. Han Solo character has been known to blur the lines between good and bad, making him a more interesting character to develop. Solo: A Star Wars Story‘s production was marred by some behind the camera drama which led to a change of director part way through the process. So some of the additional changes may be more noticeable in parts where the direction style and story vastly changed. Being such a heavyweight in the industry, Ron Howard is able to turn adversity into opportunity making the best out of what’s there.

Alden Ehrenreich got his big break in the Coen Brothers’ Hail, Caesar! (2016) which raised a few eyebrows when the casting was announced. As it turns out, Ehrenreich is as good as anyone they might have gone with in this lead role of Solo: A Star Wars Story. For the most part, he puts forth a valiant effort in this high-profile lead role. The brightest star and best performer is Donald Glover. He absolutely captures the essence of the legendary Lando Calrissian. He possesses the confidence and charm to take this performance over the top. If you close your eyes and just listen, you’ll swear that Billy Dee Williams will be awaiting you once your eyes are open.

On the downside however, Solo: A Star Wars Story is rather bland in certain areas and doesn’t capture my attention fully to have me yearning for more. Whether this was due to the uncertain production complications or just mediocre story telling, the overall experience is just average. The fact that they’re trying to potentially set up a new trilogy may be the biggest misstep. The absolute finality of what Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) was to be gave off an “all-in” vibe that put a death grip on audiences attention.

If it weren’t for the nostalgia of what this franchise brings to the table, along with the wonderful show that Donald Glover puts on, I might recommend sitting this one out, at least in theaters. As it stands, this latest offering could be just effective enough to launch the spin-off into its own trilogy, as that is the feel you get while watching this one. You can check this origin story out in theaters on May 25th!