The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special: A Fun Special That Breathes Life (Day) Into the Franchise

If you’re looking for a breezy 44-minute Christmas special that is loaded with porgs, cheeky Star Wars references, and spinning chairs – look no further than The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special. This special is a lot of fun, and it embraces the world created by The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), which featured the characters getting together for Life Day, an annual Wookie celebration that celebrates the diverse ecosystems and forms of life on the planet Kashyyyk. The good news is the latest special is much shorter, and much less weird than its 1978 predecessor.

The special focuses on the events leading up to an intricate Life Day celebration thrown by Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewbacca, Rose and C-3P0. Pressure is high as the Christmas sweater wearing Poe is stressing about getting everything done in time, while Rey is having trouble mentoring Jedi trainee Finn, who isn’t taking to her by-the-book training. To become a better teacher, Rey and BB-8 leave the crew, and travel to an ancient temple where they find a magical crystal that makes it possible for Rey to time travel. What follows next falls into spoiler territory, but expect lightsaber battles, a plethora of cameos, and some very fun moments involving porg eating.

The special breezes by quickly, and leaves you wanting more, but it also feels like just enough. Once it gets going, the plot moves at ludicrous speed and features a gag-per-second ratio that is admirable. The short running time makes it possible to watch the special multiple times so that you can catch everything you missed during the first viewings. Director Ken Cunningham and writer David Shayne, know their audience well, providing something for everyone. Hardcore fans will love the Easter eggs, young kids won’t have their attention spans tested, and the complaining branch of the universe might appreciate the slight digs at the lesser-liked aspects of the Star Wars universe.

The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is a lot of fun, and at 44 minutes, it makes for a compacted viewing experience that will make you as happy as the Ewoks dancing at the end of The Return of the Jedi. Enjoy!