Gorgeous visuals and even Star Fox himself can’t save this not-so-super Mario movie
2023’s The Super Mario Movie was a fun film for kids and adults alike, offering great visuals, vibrant animation, and a lot of charm. It didn’t quite stand out, especially considering the quality of animated films these days, but it was an enjoyable time nonetheless.
It’s disappointing, then, that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie feels like nothing more than a quick-fire montage of 20 years of Mario history; a bunch of references and Easter eggs stitched together in a lazy attempt to make you point at the screen and shout, “Hey, I know that thing!”
“There’s no real intention behind anything – stuff just happens, and it’s all pretty forgettable…”
The plot is barebones – and that’s being kind. Guardian of the Cosmos, Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) is kidnapped by Bowser Jr. (Bennie Safdie), who is set on freeing his imprisoned father (Jack Black). Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are joined by Yoshi (Donald Glover) as they set out to help Princess Peach (Anya-Taylor Joy) find her fellow royalty.
I mention all these names because the cast is pretty stacked, but you’re not really going to be able to tell some of them are even in this. Glover and Safdie specifically are almost unrecognisable, I have to imagine they’re either super fans or getting paid really well.
By far the best casting is Glen Powell as Fox McCloud, a character no one expected to show up in a Mario movie. He’s easily the best part of the film, and in a short amount of time makes a long-lasting impression. I spent the majority of the runtime wishing I was watching a Star Fox film instead.
Once again, Illumination has absolutely nailed the animation. It’s even better than the first film, using the scale and scope of the galaxy to its advantage. It’s a seriously beautiful-looking film, and there’s no lack of energy when it comes to how characters move and express themselves.
The music is also fantastic, with Brian Tyler returning and incorporating classic themes and motifs into a grand orchestral score. Unfortunately, that’s about all the praise I have, because everything outside of the visuals and the score just isn’t interesting.
I can see younger children finding this entertaining, with its flashy animation and non-stop sensory overload, but it’s not as funny as its predecessor and even lacks a breakout musical number like “Peaches.” I got a few chuckles whenever Luigi opened his mouth, but that’s mostly because I find Charlie Day inherently funny.
Even if you’re a Super Mario fan, is it really enough to just have moments from past games happen one after another? Because that’s all this is. There’s no real intention behind anything – stuff just happens, and it’s all pretty forgettable until it suddenly ends, very abruptly.
It’s been nearly 20 years since Super Mario Galaxy first released on the Nintendo Wii, becoming one of the best games of that decade and a modern classic. That game was packed with creativity, charm, and a real sense of wonder, and this film had all the ingredients to capture that magic. Instead, this feels like a highlight reel with no real substance behind it and it’s a damn shame.
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