In a galaxy, far, far away, at a time either in the past or the far-flung future, we meet a young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) in a bit of a jam. But then again, if you know the character, that is to be expected.

Throughout the 135-minute running time, Han – and his uncanny bad luck – throws him from one disastrous circumstance to the next. A lot of it is actually quite fun.

Director Ron Howard film Solo like an old-school 70’s-80’s adventure flick, is by far, the only film that carries over the adrenaline and escapade of the first Star Wars Trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and the Return of the Jedi).

Everything one imagines fitting for the story happens in the plot: Han’s first meeting with the hairy Wookie, Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo stepping in for Peter Mayhew who is 74 now); Han’s first time in the pilot’s seat of the Millennium Falcon; his conning Lando Calrissian (once played by Billy Dee Williams). These are, of course, small tit bits, but they do drive the nostalgia factor that fuel these Star Wars origin stories.

Howard, and screenwriters Jon and Lawrence Kasdan (the latter, the writer of the last two films in the original trilogy), run a tight screenplay with ferocious big-budget energy, hitting the right comedic beats within action sequences that became a staple for Han (and, if you think about it, Harrison Ford, who made the role his own).

Ehrenreich picks up a lot of mannerisms from Ford, and is charismatic enough on his own right. Besides, the film has a stockpile of excellent supporting actors, from Emilia Clarke to Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Paul Bettany and Woody Harrelson.

Solo is by far the best Star Wars film since Disney acquired the franchise. It deserves a sequel.