The Super Mario Galaxy Movie dazzles visually but feels a bit overwhelming.
With The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo took a bold step into a new era of entertainment, showcasing its iconic characters on the big screen once again. This film proved that Nintendo could team up with creative partners to deliver box office successes, boosting game sales just as the original Switch was winding down. As the company also aimed to generate excitement for its theme park attractions, it was clear that another Mario film was on the way.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is less a direct adaptation of the beloved 2007 Wii game and more a vibrant remix that blends elements from various Mario titles. It’s designed to evoke a wave of nostalgia, lighting up those cherished memories of gaming. This approach results in visually stunning scenes and delightful cameos, but the film’s storyline feels a bit formulaic. While it remains entertaining, it suggests that Nintendo might be leaning too heavily on its tried-and-true storytelling methods.
Set after the events of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the Galaxy sequel follows plumber brothers Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) as they embrace their roles as intergalactic heroes. With Bowser now shrunk down and no longer a direct threat to the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her ally Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) feel their kingdom is relatively secure. However, with various crises emerging around the Mushroom Kingdom, Peach enlists the help of the Mario brothers and their new companion Yoshi (Donald Glover) to manage her royal responsibilities.
Life is relatively peaceful for Mario and his friends until Bowser’s mischievous son, Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), escapes from boarding school with a plan to reunite with his father and conquer the galaxy. The key to his scheme involves Rosalina (Brie Larson), a mystical princess with a unique connection to the stars. When Bowser Jr. captures Rosalina, Peach and Toad take it upon themselves to rescue her while the Mario brothers hold down the fort.
Returning co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, along with writer Matthew Fogel, ensure that Mario and Luigi shine in spectacular action sequences. However, the film’s focus on Peach distinguishes it from its predecessor. It delves deeper into her intriguing backstory and highlights her relationship with Mario, giving her more opportunities to take center stage in thrilling action moments that are often lacking in her gaming adventures.
Peach and Toad’s journey through various stunning new worlds will resonate with hardcore Mario fans, especially as composer Brian Tyler’s score cleverly nods to familiar Mario tunes. Yet, despite the recognizable gameplay elements, the film doesn’t faithfully adapt the game’s narrative. This divergence worked for the previous film, which needed to introduce characters effectively. In this case, it feels like Nintendo is cramming in too many references from the franchise without allowing any of them to fully develop.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie feels packed as it introduces characters like the Honey Queen (Issa Rae) and the dubious Wart (Luis Guzmán), while also explaining Yoshi’s backstory. The abundance of content suggests that Nintendo might be hinting at larger plans for the future. While it’s exciting to see cameos from other Nintendo franchises, such as Fox McCloud (voiced by Glen Powell), these moments and the chaotic action hint at a potential interconnected cinematic universe. This is a missed opportunity, as the film shines brightest when it takes the time to deepen its core characters, rather than rushing to include newcomers.
Despite its thin plot, the movie moves at a quick pace, catering to younger audiences with shorter attention spans. While this energetic approach may lead The Super Mario Galaxy Movie to become another box office success, Nintendo will likely need to adopt a different strategy as it carves out its niche in Hollywood, especially with more complex adaptations on the horizon.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie also features Kevin Michael Richardson, Juliet Jelenic, and Ed Skudder. The film is set to hit theaters on April 1st.
