This is film two of the current trilogy and -- as such -- it's reminiscent in many ways of The Empire Strikes Back, because the middle of a classic trilogy requires that our heroes arrive at the "It's always darkest before the dawn" moment. I didn't love the film, but I certainly liked it. And it's clear to me that the new hands in charge of Star Wars understand better how to make a Star Wars film than George Lucas did when he was making parts 1 through 3. The check boxes that need to be checked are all checked, the feel is all right. It's a good film and it's good Star Wars.
It seems clear to me, though -- and I don't think that I'm giving anything away by saying this -- that the outline for the trilogy took serious damage from Carrie Fisher's untimely death. The Force Awakens was Han's film, while The Last Jedi was Luke's film. The next film would have been Leia's film.
And now it won't, except in spirit.
Tomorrow, Gretchen gets to go see the film and then I can talk to her about it. :)