The thing is, Marvel makes it funny, and that charm and care is what has and will keep audiences coming back over and over again.

In the end, it’s hard to shake the feeling that they’ve made a movie for boys that only adults are allowed to see. For the future sleepover party where some open-minded parent allows a screening, it’ll surely be a blast.

Loving Star Wars without reserve isn’t an easily justifiable thing, and neither is the fun of The Force Awakens. They are intrinsically linked. To love the original is to love this one. On its own, The Force Awakens probably isn’t much. It’s not likely to convert anyone, either. But for the rest of us – even the most casual of fans – it fits the bill just fine.