NEW YORK—Critics are praising J.J. Abrams’ “The Force Awakens” as a return to form for the “Star Wars” franchise, albeit one that replays many of the saga’s familiar storylines. Here’s a roundup of reviews from various publications:
• Manohla Dargis, New York Times: “The big news about ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ is—spoiler alert—that it’s good! Despite the pre-release hype, it won’t save the world, not even Hollywood, but it seamlessly balances cozy favourites—Harrison Ford, ladies and gentlemen—and new kinetic wows along with some of the niceties that went missing as the series grew into a phenomenon, most crucially a scale and a sensibility that is rooted in the human.”
