The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: A Nostalgic Nintendo Adventure

Game On!

Wa-hoo! One of the biggest icons in all of gaming is finally back on the big screen, in an all-new adventure across the universe! The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a sequel to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros Movie – itself based on Nintendo’s classic Super Mario Bros video game franchise – which was one of the biggest movies of that year. Not only did it gross over a billion dollars at the worldwide box office – making it the highest-grossing video game film of all time – but it was adored by fans of the series, with some even declaring it one of the greatest console-to-screen adaptations of all time. 

Now, the beloved plumber is back with a new grand journey in one of the year’s most anticipated movies. Using 2010’s Super Mario Galaxy as the primary inspiration for its story, the film promised to bring the classic characters on an intergalactic ride across different universes, with many of the predecessor’s cast and crew returning. But could the film manage to level up from what came before? Given the film’s early box office projections of at least $160 million in its first five days alone, the answer seems to be evident among audiences.

Personally, as someone who played a lot of Mario games growing up, I really enjoyed the first Super Mario Bros movie. It wasn’t without its issues, but I loved how it balanced its entertainment value with nostalgia, staying true to the spirit of the games with charming characters and a stunning visual style. As such, I was really curious to see how the creative team would tackle Super Mario Galaxy, as it has a much wider range of locations and bigger story stakes than the classic arcade games. This movie held a lot of potential, but how it executed everything was what would matter the most, as I eagerly began counting down the days to its release to see how it would play out. 

I headed to Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield on Wednesday, April 1 – and no, I’m not fooling – and secured a ticket to a late-night screening. As the level was completed, I was left with one question: did this movie do one of the most acclaimed Mario games of all time justice, or was it as pleasant as eating a bad mushroom?

Down the Pipe

Set shortly after the events of its predecessor, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie puts dynamic duo Mario and Luigi – two Brooklyn plumbers who got transported into the magical Mushroom Kingdom – back in the spotlight after their victory against the villainous Bowser. But while overseeing him, they are invaded by his son, Bowser Jr., who plans to take his father back and restore the terrifying impact of his family’s name. With a galaxy-wide threat at stake, Mario and Luigi are left to travel across multiple worlds – with friends old and new – to stop the Bowsers from destroying the entire universe.

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic – who helmed the first movie and co-developed Teen Titans Go – the film features a massive array of talented actors, both old and new to the franchise. Familiar faces include Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, and Keegan-Michael Key, while new additions include Brie Larson, Benny Safdie, Glen Powell, Luis Guzmán, Issa Rae, and Donald Glover.

In general, I was very satisfied by this movie. However, much like its predecessor, it is not without issues, particularly in the story department. The biggest drawback this movie faces is that it feels like there’s too much going on, while simultaneously not doing enough to add any depth to its core story. As such, the film juggles way too many subplots at once, and all of them end up having predictable outcomes or lacking development.

There are multiple side stories in this movie, even beyond the primary conflict of stopping the Bowsers from taking over the galaxy. These include a quest to find a kidnapped princess, a romantic subplot involving Mario, and a father-son dynamic between Bowser and his son. The only one of these I thought was well-handled was the latter, as it had a surprisingly satisfying emotional depth in how it developed the two’s bond, while never negating the stakes of their goals. 

Everything else was the definition of subpar, feeling rushed at best and abandoned at worst, all while the primary plot plays out with highly predictable outcomes. It ultimately shuns out any sort of tension the film may have been trying to build up, as it’s very easy to see where it is going to go with each scene. 

Not helping the matter is the pacing, which feels way too fast, even by Mario standards. The film has a lot of content crammed into 90 minutes, leaving it to constantly jump between scenes and character perspectives, overloading the system with plot details and leaving it in an odd position as it zooms through its story. This is especially prevalent throughout the third act, particularly in an action-packed climax which serves as the film’s endgame. Characters are abandoned until the script calls for them, a number of undeveloped subplots suddenly get revisited, and it concludes about as quickly as it begins, leaving no real time to savor any of the onscreen events. The film tosses too many ideas at the wall at once and constantly hops between them at lightning speed, resulting in very few of them sticking.

The story is absolutely riddled with issues which prevent it from being one of the year’s best. But to be honest, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a blast with this movie. Even with all of its writing issues, the movie stays true to the core spirit of the games, especially in how it sees its protagonists travel across mystical worlds and meet a number of creatures before reaching the final boss. 

Not to mention, the movie serves as a love letter to fans of Mario and Nintendo in general, as evidenced by the numerous Easter eggs and references to the brands throughout the runtime. It gives the film a prominent sense of nostalgia and adds to its entertainment value, making it absolutely worthwhile even with the script’s lack of consistency. 

I feel like the best way to combat these screenplay issues would be to either add an extra 15-20 minutes to the runtime, or use a different game as the primary inspiration. Although Super Mario Galaxy is one of the most acclaimed installments of the entire franchise, its story, stakes, and setting are much grander than a lot of the original games. This movie had the right idea with adapting it, but it bit off more than it could chew in execution. I think if they used a game like Super Mario World – which has a simple story but a number of new ideas – as the basis for the script, the film might’ve been more consistent. 

Even so, considering what they had to work with, it’s hard not to commend the creative team for their efforts in adapting a much grander story, despite how overstuffed the final film ended up being.

Selecting a Roster

This film is brought to life by a colorful array of characters, many of which return from the previous film’s adventure. However, all of these players – old and new – share one thing in common: they are all incredibly charming. The majority of the film’s protagonists are carried over from the first film, but there are also a lot of new faces as well. In all cases, they each have a distinct sense of energy which allows them to mesh greatly with the film’s fantastical environments. 

The primary characters of the movie, Mario and Luigi, have traits which are practically identical to how they were in the first film, with Mario being straightforward in his delivery and eager to prove himself, while Luigi is much more easygoing and suspicious. The film does give them additional subplots which don’t get much development, but what really sells their bond is their care for one another. The two share many more scenes together than they did in the predecessor, allowing their relationship to feel more worthwhile as they share genuine interactions with brotherly dialogue. 

The other returning characters also stand out in how they have distinct personalities and a number of chances to shine. These include the rebellious Princess Peach, her determined sidekick Toad, and the menacing reptilian Bowser. The latter actually has the most prominent development of the entire ensemble in the most surprising aspect of the film. As teased in the trailers, he goes through rehabilitation and is much more friendly to the brothers, even opting to join them on their journey. But as the runtime progresses and he becomes reacquainted with his son, his backstory and motivation are explored thoroughly, ultimately leaving viewers to wonder if he really has changed, or if it’s all a sham to one-up the brothers. 

The new characters also get distinct times to shine, but they do not have nearly as much screentime as the original ensemble. The only one who gets a prominent chance to shine is Yoshi, a dinosaur who Mario and Luigi befriend early in the runtime. Everyone else gets sidelined to some extent, especially Rosalina – a princess of the cosmos who I thought was going to have a much bigger role. 

In reality, her character only plays a prominent part in the first and third acts of the movie, but the screentime she does have is worthwhile, especially with her unique fighting style and clever backstory. Rosalina had a ton of promise to be one of the movie’s standout heroes, but I wish they gave her more to do rather than sideline her throughout most of the runtime. 

Even with this, the characters are all unique and enjoyable in their own ways, which is further benefitted by the voice acting. Every performer blends in with their characters, with each of them providing an energetic approach to their animated models which helps their personalities to shine through the screen. Some of my personal favorites included the brotherly dynamic from Pratt and Day as Mario and Luigi, respectively, Taylor-Joy’s combination of care and intensity as Peach, Glover’s unrecognizable vocal change as Yoshi, and Powell’s charisma as another iconic Nintendo character – who I won’t spoil. 

But without a doubt, my favorites of the lot were Black and Safdie as the Bowser and his son, respectively. The two play off of each other flawlessly, combining their domineering personalities with a strong sense of humor. Not to mention, once the film establishes their backstory and prior connection, it gives both of them an unexpected layer of tenderness and care, allowing for a strong father-son dynamic. This combination of traits ultimately make them standout characters of the movie, just going to show that anyone is capable of strong emotional moments – even threatening reptiles.

Playing with Power

Without question, my favorite aspect of this movie was its visual style, particularly in its animation. It was brought to life by iconic studio Illumination – primarily known for the Despicable Me and Sing movies – in their second outing with Nintendo. Much like their work on the predecessor, this film is absolutely stunning in every meaning of the term, to the point where I think it ranks among their best work.

The animation stays true to the source material, while adding a creative flair which can only be captured on the big screen. The character designs feel ripped directly out of games, whether it be the main protagonists or the various mobs seen throughout the galaxy. It almost felt like I was watching an actual Mario game play out right in front of me, especially with the adaptation of faithful in-game mechanics – like power-ups used by the characters during fight scenes and Bowser’s ability to breathe fire. This greatly satisfied my inner child, as I felt a desire to go home and boot up my Nintendo Wii as soon as I left the auditorium. 

Not to mention, the locations and environments are absolutely stunning, and the film has no shortage in how many it visits, either. Seeing how this is the Mario *Galaxy*  movie, it makes use of several backdrops to showcase its onscreen antics. These include a hot desert tundra explored early in the film, a creative casino full of larger-than-life games, and the intergalactic stars of the universe itself. Each one boasts variety in their own creative styles, sporting different obstacles and mobs which give every world its own unique appeal, especially in how the characters use these locations in the film’s many action scenes.

This is especially prominent throughout the final minutes of the movie, where – despite my pacing issues – it cranks the entertainment dial up to 11, largely due to its backdrop. I won’t spoil what specific area it is, but let’s just say that it’s a dangerous place full of hot lava, unpredictable machinery, and enemies at every turn. This gives the film a layer of stakes which keep the final fight engaging, especially with the unpredictable pattern of what could happen next. 

To top it all off, the film is backed by an incredible musical score, courtesy of composer Brian Tyler. One of my biggest issues with the first movie was that its music felt out of place, as it combined its orchestral tracks with tunes that didn’t fit with its tone – such as “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” by the Beastie Boys and “Take On Me” by a-ha. However, this sequel keeps lyrical songs to a minimum, putting a greater emphasis on the score in one of its biggest benefits over the predecessor.

The score uses multiple tracks with whimsical compositions and sweeping instruments to transport viewers directly into this world. But to truly enhance the experience, Tyler experiments with a number of tunes from Mario video games, and amplifies them to fit with the movie’s cinematic approach. I heard songs from games like Galaxy and Super Mario Odyssey, which not only added to the fun of the film’s Easter egg hunt, but it cemented an identity for itself. Mixed with the gorgeous animation and fun action, the film excels at entertainment solely through the technical aspects, making it worth watching in theaters just for them alone. 

It’s hard to overlook the film’s issues, but I love how the creative team clearly made this movie with the fans in mind. As such, it not only serves as a love letter to fans of Mario and Nintendo, but it also acts as an effectively entertaining introduction to the brand for any newcomers.

A Luminous Glow

Overall, despite its inconsistent script, overly quick pacing, and concept that’s a bit too ambitious, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a highly entertaining film through its charming characters, stunning visuals, effective voice acting, and strong sense of nostalgia. Though I do slightly prefer the first Mario film, I still had a great time with this sequel, especially as a fan of the original video games.

If you’re a fan of the Mario franchise, the sci-fi genre, or the Nintendo brand in general, I’d recommend giving this movie a watch. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently traversing thousands of theaters across the country, including Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield. If you want to see classic characters facing big threats on a big screen, this is the perfect film for you!

It may bump into a few enemies, but this film manages to stand enough of its own ground to stick out as a highly satisfying second level.

My Rating