I considered skipping this review, because it's quite likely that you've already formed your opinion from multiple other reviews if not the movie itself by now. But it's also quite likely that you'll take more interest in this subject than in my usual fare, so why not? And it's not like I never read what other people say about what I've already seen.
In a way, TFA is inherently sad from the get-go: Only a generation after the end of the Empire, the galaxy faces an equal if not worse threat called the First Order. General Leia (no longer going by "Princess") naturally leads the Resistance, but Luke Skywalker has lain low for so long that many think him a mere legend, Han Solo and Chewbacca have been up to their old smuggling and other shenanigans more than heroism, R2D2 has been inert in Luke's absence, and C3PO is only so useful without R2. Taking more of the spotlight now are Rey, who resembles a young female Luke with a bit more fire; FN-2187, nicknamed Finn, a rookie stormtrooper disenchanted with the First Order's cruelty; BB-8, a diminutive droid carrying an important map; and Poe, a pilot and BB-8's master. The most prominent villain for now is Kylo Ren, an open Darth Vader wannabe who may actually outdo Vader's command of the Force. Where is the Jedi who can hold his or her own against him?
Derivative? Well, yes, in the same way that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is derivative with regard to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Reminiscent of fan fiction? It might even qualify as such, despite Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) writing. But that's what most of the audience has wanted for a long time. The question is, how well does it work?
First, let me mention the one thing TFA does a little better than either prior trilogy: political correctness. As much as we like Leia, she spent too much time as a damsel in distress, whereas Rey defies the trope. She's not the only other significant female character this time either, thanks mainly to advisor Maz and villain Captain Phasma. Also, this is the first live-action film to confirm that males aren't the only ones who can use the Force for something besides sensation, tho I won't tell you who does it. On the racial front, while Finn isn't the first black hero, he is the one with the most screen time, he gets an interracial love interest, and it looks like he won't betray the good guys like Lando or die like Mace Windu. (I only wish Lupita Nyong'o got to appear on screen instead of voicing an alien. Between this and the upcoming The Jungle Book, it seems Disney doesn't respect her beauty.)
The story? Heck, when did any part of the official Star Wars universe have an impressive story? The best it ever does is shock us on occasion, which, yes, does happen here. TFA takes a while to get the ball rolling, apart from the locomotion of BB-8, who, while a worthy successor to R2, gets more attention than a beeping droid merits. But at least it's a space western in keeping with the original, marked in part by the ethical doubts of key characters: Finn, Rey, and even Ren repeatedly struggle with what they ought to do. In truth, the slowness of progression can be a bit of a relief.
The dialog? Pretty good, oddly enough. I don't know yet how quotable it is, but many moments succeed at being funny on purpose, especially when Han is involved. (Harrison Ford unsurprisingly gets top billing, but giving second to Mark Hamill is just too deceitful.)
The audiovisual spectacle? Be warned: My mom found it dizzying and said she would have barfed if we watched in 3D. Apart from that, you shouldn't be disappointed. There is of course more CG than in the original trilogy, but it has advanced a bit since 2005, and there are enough live-action objects (including Muppety creatures) to satisfy nostalgia. The new actors, while perhaps not the cream of the crop, don't get hindered by too much green-screening and thus have little trouble making us believe in them; they should have decent careers from here on. You already know what to expect from the music and sound effects.
One other first comes to mind: human blood. Not a whole lot, but who ever thought that Disney would add to the grittiness of the franchise?
My family didn't go to a screening with a super-nerdy crowd (nobody was in costume), but the audience applauded at some familiar entrances as well as the ending. I don't take this to mean that the old elements were the only good ones. It would take a really picky fan, or maybe a major J.J. Abrams hater, to want to pretend that TFA doesn't count in the canon. It's an experience that rarely falls flat, holding promise for the next episode, which hopefully will answer a few questions deliberately raised for now. And we needn't wait a full three years this time.
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