I think I realize why so many people don’t like The Last Jedi.
It smirks.
For all of it’s faults, The Force Awakens doesn’t try to be clever. It doesn’t smirk; it’s earnest.
Of course, The Rise of Skywalker is the worst of both worlds as neither clever nor earnest.
TFA played it safe, TLJ took risks, and TROS was a lost mess.
TFA captured the heart of SW, but did not infuse enough new material.
TLJ captured the intensity of SW’ darker side, and could have been a master stroke had it respected the OT cast.
TROS was fan fiction, what happens when playing it safe and taking risks in the last two films did not go over well.