I think the problem is that JJ was trying to cram 2 movies into 1 basically. It should have been spread over 2 movies and might have worked. 'Last Jedi' is kinda totally disconnected from this one.
I read a review saying it was like a video-game, and I think that's right - all the 'fetch quests' and MacGuffins.
I think there have to be a balance between character-driven and plot-driven. But here, it's tipped over to plot-driven extreme, and the characters are sort of just reduced to pawns, so a lot of the charm is lost.
The end of the TV series 'Game Of Thrones' and WoT suffered the same problem. It's pacing really. If you try to cram a lot of plot into a space of time which is too short, the characters turn into puppets rushing around from A to B to C - too much plotting can destroy characterization!
Got to balance plot with character and get the pacing right!