Director Daniel Smith and Co-Collaborator Jeff Sheetz took it upon themselves to create possibly one of the finest homages to the “Star Wars” universe of all time, and one of the most clever looks in to the untold story of Lucas’ most iconic characters by taking the combined talents of Dave School from Universal Studios to tell their own prequel, the prologue to Han Solo and Chewbacca.
Filled with masterful animation and sharp voice acting, “The Solo Adventures” elaborates on the cargo drop that Han and Chewie engaged in before they landed at the Cantina to meet Obi-Wan and Luke that grabbed them such hot water from Jabba and his gang. Speeding across the galaxy in the Millennium Falcon, Chewie and Han make it their mission to deliver said cargo to Jabba with the guidance of a droid who is insistent on getting this cargo to Jabba or else. But with the rising power of the Empire and the war taking siege across the skies, Han and Chewie inevitably come across the Imperial ships and make a break for it while also crossing the droid who is intent on getting the mysterious cargo to Jabba whether they’re alive or dead.
Filled with the same buddy action comedy we saw in “Star Wars,” Han and Chewie are in rare form here as two mismatched best friends who are forced to make a decision when they’re confronted with the Empire tie fighters and Chewbacca actually manages to display some brains and decisions of his own against Han’s own frustration. Filled with the whimsy and free spirited humor and swashbuckling adventure that went missing from the series after “Return of the Jedi,” Smith and Sheetz along with the Dave School team manage to concoct something of a really exciting and fantastic introduction to these two anti-heroes who are at constant odds with one another but are never afraid to fight on the same side when approached with the villainous tie fighters in the sky.
The character designs are very detailed and often vivid while Han’s depiction is very true to the character persona we saw in the original film. Meanwhile Smith and Sheetz squeeze in their own villain with Jabba’s droid agent leading to a rather surprising final scene that is not only a tongue in cheek hint at Han’s fate at the hands of Jabba in the original trilogy, but yet another giant wink from true fans of the saga that will leave hardcore “Star Wars” buffs laughing until the credits roll. The Dave School award winning fan film “The Solo Adventures” is what every “Star Wars” fan tribute should aspire to be, recalling a more innocent time where excitement and characterization was always a top priority while the duo behind the animation top it all off with a rather clever little closer you won’t soon forget.