I found myself really watching the droids—C-3PO and R2-D2—who are as important to the movie as the traditional actors (the robots were actors, too: Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker, respectively).

Good versus evil, dark against light. Simple. R2-D2 and C-3PO are the mismatched comic relief, an intergalactic Odd Couple as Greek chorus: Threepio the neatnik Felix to R2’s slovenly Oscar ...