by Henry Pham
Spiritually speaking, playing classic Mario games (and other games) on GameCube and Nintendo Wii during my youth was more enjoyable before smartphones had touched our lives. Directing duo, Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, return to direct this latest installment of The Super Mario Bros. Movie franchise. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is based on the 2007 video game, Super Mario Galaxy, and serves as a direct sequel from the first film, released in 2023. It focuses on Mario and Luigi, who meet and befriend Yoshi as they join Princess Peach and Toad on an adventure into outer space and across the galaxy to rescue Rosalina, who was kidnapped by Bowser’s son, Bowser Jr., who plots to get revenge on Mario and take over the universe. With that, Mario, Luigi and Yoshi must face off against Bowser and Bowser Jr. to save Rosalina and the entire universe.
The sequel features both returning and new characters, brought to life by a talented voice cast. Chris Pratt (NBC’s Parks and Recreation), Charlie Day (FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Anya-Taylor Joy (Netflix’s Queen’s Gambit), Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda films), and Keegan-Michael Key (Comedy Central’s Key & Peele) reprise their roles as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, and Toad. New additions include Benny Safdie (director of Uncut Gems and The Smashing Machine), Donald Glover (FX’s Atlanta), Brie Larson (Room, Captain Marvel), and Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick), who voice Bowser Jr., Yoshi, Rosalina, and Fox McCloud from the Star Fox series.
The sequel offers minor plot improvements but does not fully develop its new characters. Despite this, the film remains entertaining and appeals to both children and fans of Mario and other Nintendo games. The voice cast performs well, with new actors bringing the fun and energy to the franchise. Jack Black, on the other hand, is a huge show-stealer like in the first film. Notably, Seth Rogen and Charles Martinet are absent from this installment; Martinet’s inclusion, even in a voice cameo, could have added more depth. While the film features vibrant visuals and colorful, gorgeous animation, the story feels rushed, and characters’ abilities are not well-explained. The directors and animators prioritize entertainment, but the pacing of the action could be improved in this 98-minute story. The references and the cameos are surprising and clever, but the fan service is unnecessary.
I know it’s a sequel to a successful billion-dollar original film; I predict it will be a larger hit for kids and fans who grew up with these games. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie offers more entertainment for kids and fans despite some minor improvements and underdeveloped characters. I know it’s not perfect, but this one is a little better than the first (I gave the first film a grade of D). The reason is that it gives me the opportunity to explore new worlds and characters from not only the Mario games, but also other games produced by Nintendo. Who knows, we could get a sequel called “The Super Mario Smash Movie”, per se. Speaking of that, please stick around after the movie for the post-credit scenes, as it will introduce one of the familiar game characters, who will be saved for future installments, according to the directors, Nintendo executives, and the entire crew.
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