The inevitable backlash over "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" focused on its derivative plot elements. (Another climactic battle over a Death Star-like weapon? Really?) But this highly entertaining entry in Lucasfilm's beloved series succeeds on reverence for the original trilogy, zippy visual effects and a cast led by captivating newcomers Daisy Ridley and John Boyega.

For once, we have a "Star Wars" movie with a strong heroine running the show, as Ridley's Rey seeks to find her place in the galaxy after a wayward droid draws her into the war between the Resistance and the First Order. Of all the familiar characters who have returned, perhaps Chewbacca's presence in the new film is the most rewarding.

The film's home-video debut, on-demand on Friday and a Blu-ray combo (Disney, $40; also includes DVD and digital HD) on Tuesday, affords the opportunity to pause to appreciate and study all of the little moments that director J.J. Abrams and crew have sprinkled throughout the film. Note, for example, who's holding the little girl's hand in Rey's jarring dream sequence.

Extras on the Blu-ray come on a stand-alone disc.

That means the four minutes' worth of deleted scenes -- a prize for hardcore fans -- can't be watched within the context of the movie. Honestly, most of the snippets, with rudimentary visual effects, add little to the story. X-wings jump into hyperspace, stormtroopers chase Rey and Finn on snow speeders and Kylo Ren searches the Millennium Falcon, for example. But the first one, which implies an actual or symbolic relationship between Finn and a villager in the opening raid on Jakku, could have added more intrigue to that character. An extra deleted scene is included as part of the on-demand version of the film that debuts Friday.

The highlight of the bonus material is an all-too-brief (four minutes) eavesdropping on the table read for the script before filming began. All of the major players, old and new, are present. It's highlighted by the just-right narration of Mark Hamill, who has established a strong second career as a voiceover artist. The earnestness of Boyega, in particular, creates a desire for more from the session.

Other extras include a decent 70-minute making-of documentary, a look at the creation of new droid BB-8 and various creatures, a special-effects overview, and a brief exploration of composer John Williams' iconic work for the franchise.

(A version of the Blu-ray combo available only at Target adds interviews with Ridley and Boyega, as well as some making-of footage, totaling about 20 minutes.)

It's a two-hour package that nevertheless is missing key features, such as any kind of commentary, more in-depth documentaries and promotional materials. And I'd really love to see more from that table read. But it will keep diehards satiated until an inevitable special edition comes along -- maybe by the holiday season?