[You can proceed without concern for spoilers for The Last Jedi until you get to the bold font disclaimer].

The Last Jedi basic figures have largely been a step up from the TFA figures (as were the figures in the Rogue One line, but these are even a bit better on the whole.)  There was an R2-D2 figure as part of a 2-pack with C-3PO in the TFA line, and that figure was terrible.  It had a simple rotating dome and articulated “shoulders”, and that was about it.  With a character that would be expected to be less than “super-articulated” anyway, that figure took under-articulation to a new low.  It was about as lame as an astromech could be.  And then in the Rogue One line, the AT-ACT came with another astromech, C2-B5, that was of the same mold.  Both figures seemed appropriate for the budget line.

Here we have an R2-D2 that is based on the well-liked build-a-droid figure.  R2 breaks up into all the parts - the dome, the body, the legs, and the third foot.  Naturally, the expected articulation is included as well!  It has the ankles as well as wheeled feet, including the middle one.  The sculpt is excellent, including the foot wires. The paint could be a little sharper, but it’s a minor complaint for me.  One nice thing I noticed is that those “arm” sockets on the lower part of the body cylinder for the BAD astromechs is now absent.  It was originally intended to accommodate mix-and-match options to make Franken-mechs in the BAD line, but they’ve been eliminated here, giving us a more screen accurate droid.  Well done!

A nicely conceived feature is the clip-on rocket extensions with the separate flames.  Without the extensions, there is no evidence that the figure has attachments, which is great.  Yet the extensions clip onto the legs with a soft “snap”, and hold fairly well in place, although perhaps a tad loosely.  The flames can be added for additional effects.  It is well done because the aesthetic is not ruined.

Now for the mild spoiler:

When images first came out for this figure, it was unknown if the rockets were an indication that R2-D2 flies in The Last Jedi.  We know now that he does not.  So this would seem to be one of those handful of figures from the last 3 movie lines that are not from that movie.  Just in the TLJ line look, this is the 4th non-TLJ basic figure (along with Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Jyn Erso). This R2 is from the prequels. 

Mild spoiler ends.

This is the droid you are looking for, but probably weren’t expecting, in the budget line.  This is a collector quality figure, worthy of being included in the Vintage Collection (maybe with an accessory to help justify the price).  And you get it for $7.99.  You really can’t beat that.  It’s not the best or most innovative figure we’ve seen so far in the budget line (I’d give that honor to Paige).  It’s even a mold that is something like 8 or 9 years old.  But because this same figure would be welcome in the collector line, I’d have to give it a very high score.  I give it an 8, because it’s a great R2-D2, and it talks!  It would be be better if it had a nice accessory (the rockets aren’t mind-blowing), but the price certainly is right.