Though I obviously disagree that the film “has no interest in generating or sustaining immersion in the audience” (I think there’s more to immersion than lack of “winking” jokes, plus wouldn’t that disqualify TFA as well? Hell even AOTC had at least one winking reference to the original film), I must say you have a well made point in stating that the film is perhaps less earnest than it’s predecessors. Though that doesn’t mean it isn’t earnest at all, and I’m not even sure that gets to the root of many fans issues with it. Some of the most widely criticized elements of the film are Leia in space, Rose Tico, and the Canto Bight escapade, all of which are, for my money, as earnest as anything else in the franchise.