“Solo: A Star Wars Story” is well told, but is this trip really necessary?

Ron Howard does a bang-up job helming “Solo: A Star Wars Story”, directing the stand-alone space opera with precision, energy, and engaging performances. Still, as entertaining as it all it, it begs the question whether this trip is truly necessary. After all, audiences already know how Han Solo’s story ends in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, so how vital can his backstory be? This one struggles to be pertinent, as does star Alden Ehrenreich to live up to his predecessor, the legendary Harrison Ford. Despite a sharp script by Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan, this trip to a galaxy far, far away lacks oomph. Sadly, the Force isn’t so strong with this one.