REVIEW: 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' is a rush of colorful whimsy over substance—and that's not a bad thing
In 1993, the disastrous live-action Super Mario Bros. movie made Nintendo swear off big-screen versions of their video games. It would take thirty years before Illumination (the studio behind Despicable Me and Sing) proved to the world (and Nintendo executives) that a fun, faithful adaptation wasn’t just possible, but awesome. 2023’s Super Mario Bros. The Movie was a smash hit, winning over moviegoers with a bright, energetic take on the iconic plumbers’ adventures. Starring Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) as Mario, Charlie Day (Pacific Rim) as Luigi, and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Menu) as Princess Peach, the film blended action, humor, and heart with no end of references, in-jokes, and nods to keep audiences coming back for more.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie picks up shortly after the defeat of Bowser (Jack Black, still having the time of his life), with Mario and Luigi settling into their roles as protectors of the Mushroom Kingdom. As Mario wrestles with confessing his love for Peach, the Princess sets out on an intergalactic adventure to rescue Rosalina (Brie Larson, Captain Marvel), that will force our heroes into a confrontation with no less than Bowser’s son, Junior (Benny Safdie of Uncut Gems fame).
If that sounds a bit thin, that’s because it is, but seeing as pretty much every mainline Mario Game is built around a princess being kidnapped, it’s honestly a miracle that this wasn’t the plot of the previous movie. Anorexic narrative notwithstanding, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a massively enjoyable sequel that doesn’t overstay its welcome. With less of an overall reliance on nostalgia this time around, directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (the duo behind Teen Titans Go!) go all-in on expanding their characters’ universe, literally and figuratively.
The result is a visual joy ride, taking Mario and friends beyond their iconic environs and blasting them off to wondrous, eye-popping worlds that would give Pixar a run for its money. While some of the focus is taken off the titular Bros. to a degree, familial ties still play a crucial role, mainly in how Bowser Jr. just wants to make his father proud. Ironically, Bowser at this point is as much the bad guy as a Fast & Furious villain making his second appearance: not-quite-good, but somehow still invited to the family barbecue after the explosions have died down. In any case, Bowser and his son’s interactions are some of the best scenes in the movie, as the King of the Koopas tries to balance his paternal duties with his (somewhat) reformed worldview.
As the Bros. set out with Toad (Keegan-Michael Key, Transformers One) and their new dinosaur friend Yoshi (Donald Glover, Childish Gambino himself) on their own riotous side adventures, Peach discovers that Rosalina’s abduction may hold the answers to her own origins. Along the way, she faces off against hordes of fanciful foes on a casino planet, and crosses paths with another iconic Nintendo character, voiced to conceited perfection by Top Gun: Maverick’s Glen Powell (If this is Illumination’s way of setting up a spinoff, count me in!).
The film may take inspiration from one of the newer games in the series, but its core remains firmly rooted in the franchise’s 8-bit origins, and that’s most definitely a good thing. While the mileage of anyone not inherently familiar with these characters will definitely vary to a greater degree than the previous film, fans of every generation will be thrilled; from iconic power ups, obstacles, and level-specific music, to signature enemies, visuals, and game mechanics, there’s so, so much to enjoy here, regardless of which Nintendo console you happened to grow up on.
Between the lore drops, imaginative set-pieces, and overall family appeal, Illumination has another winner here, with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie looking well-poised to match—or even surpass—its predecessor’s box office. To say the least, this bodes well for future installments, while raising expectations for other potential Nintendo movie franchises, including the already-in-production live-action take on The Legend of Zelda.
To paraphrase a classic Nintendo tagline, now, they’re playing with power.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opened in Philippine cinemas on April 4. Watch the trailer below.
