Having said that, the biggest issue I have with The Force Awakens is that it is too reliant on exhibitionism and audience interaction. It is content to rest on the laurels of the franchise and let the already iconic imagery do the work without offering anything new to the table.
I’m going to disagree here. There is so much new, and so much risk taking, that I can’t agree nothing new is brought to the table.
Female lead to carry the movie, who is allowed to stay covered up (in one outfit, no less) and get sweaty and dirty? Huge risk.
Black second lead, as a defecting stormtrooper? Risk.
Han gets killed? Giant risk.
Luke doesn’t show up until the last scene and doesn’t say anything? Risk!
We get a complex imperfect villain completely unlike Vader who idolizes him at the same time. Not to mention a villain who doesn’t look like one when he takes the mask off. We see the force used in new and interesting ways.
I don’t disagree with much of your points, and the movie does play it safe in some ways, but it’s not a safe movie.