The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Writers: Matthew Fogel
Directors: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Brie Larson
Nintendo’s mustachioed monarchs returned to the big screen this week in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a cosmic follow-up to 2023’s billion-dollar blockbuster. Sadly, despite its beautiful animation, all-star cast, and the return of original directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, critics have been more than a little merciless toward Mario and Luigi’s latest escapade—as though an animated kids’ movie centered around one of pop culture’s biggest IPs was expected to be something more. Well, it’s not. And you know what? It doesn’t need to be.
No, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn’t Oppenheimer or One Battle After Another. It’s not trying to be an Oscar winner or an art film reflecting on the fragility of human existence. What it is is a video game movie—fun, visually impressive, and packed with world-building that feels pulled straight from decades worth of Nintendo history. If you’ve picked up a controller at any point over the last 40 years, chances are good you’ll find something here to enjoy.
Kicking off shortly after the events of the first film, the story opens in familiar fashion. Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) kidnaps Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) from her Comet Observatory, planning to use her power to fuel a universe-destroying cannon. Before she’s taken, Rosalina sends a Luma to the Mushroom Kingdom, where it seeks help from Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key). At the same time, Bowser Jr. sets his sights on rescuing his father, Bowser, who was defeated and shrunk at the end of the previous movie.
Meanwhile, Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) investigate a disturbance in the desert town of Tosterena. There, they befriend Yoshi (Donald Glover), a green dinosaur with an insatiable appetite and plenty of personality. With Peach and Toad away, the trio vow to protect the Mushroom Kingdom and even attempt to rehabilitate Bowser—once again played to maniacal perfection by Jack Black—who has turned to cooking, painting, and even a little bit of Bonsai pruning as outlets for his anger issues.
Elsewhere, Peach and Toad continue their search for Rosalina, eventually making their way to a casino in the Gateway Galaxy. There, they shake down Wart (Luis Guzmán)—the froggy fiend from 1988’s Super Mario Bros. 2—to learn the princess’s whereabouts.
From there, the adventure keeps moving at a brisk pace. Luigi taps into some late-’70s CB radio skills to contact the Lumas, Peach uncovers some intriguing revelations about her past, Bowser tries to repair his relationship with his son, and — in one of the film’s more playful turns, Mario and Luigi are transformed into babies.
Like I said earlier, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie may not be an award contender, and it isn’t necessarily better than its predecessor—but it is just as enjoyable. Anyone who grew up sitting on their living room floor, journeying through the Mushroom Kingdom with Mario and Luigi, is going to have a great time. Whether it’s the gorgeous animation, the cameos (and yes, you’ll want to stay for both post-credit scenes), or the sheer amount of Easter eggs and attention to detail, there’s a lot here to appreciate.
And for those of us who grew up with the 1993 live-action version, this feels like a win no matter how you slice it. Trust me—it could’ve been worse. It could’ve been much, MUCH worse.
At the end of the day, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is exactly what it sets out to be: a fun, energetic ride for kids and gamers alike—one Super Mushroom-sized (Mario) Party.
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