Super Mario Galaxy Movie Review

The hard part is over. Regardless of how you may have felt The Super Mario Bros Moviethe animated video game adaptation was a runaway success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide. Now the question is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie can deliver an equally engaging return trip to the Mushroom Kingdom that is packed with more Easter eggs, references and characters than its predecessor. The good news is that the answer is yes.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is overflowing with so many Mario and Nintendo goodies that your eyes will tire from running over every inch of the frame. From the set decoration to the background characters to the nostalgic musical cues, so much of the film is a love letter to the larger Mario Bros. IP and Nintendo in general. If you have even a casual reverence for this world, then The Super Mario Galaxy Movie provides an assault on the senses that is as dizzying as it is satisfying.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a “better” film than the first, but it's undoubtedly the beneficiary of its predecessor's success. With the trust of a firmly established audience, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie can take wild turns in the way it adapts the source material, expertly balancing sequences inspired by the more modern Sand Kingdom of Mario Odyssey to a very direct reference to the world maps of the early 8-bit era.

The Super Mario Galaxy movie is non-stop

It usually starts with a princess being kidnapped, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is no different. Princess Rosalina has been taken by Bowser Jr. And it's up to Mario, Peach, Luigi, Toad and new members of the team to save her. At just over 90 minutes, the film has some time to breathe, and I'm happy to report to all the parents out there that it's a fast-paced visual treat.

The galaxy concept opens up the story to go to many unique locations, but mostly it's an excuse to incorporate as many different Mario references as possible. I'm not complaining, but the story is structured not unlike the first, where the goal is clear but the detours are many. The joy lies in where the story goes in terms of its settings and less in terms of its twists and turns.

A fast pace also means there isn't much in the way of character development, which is a shame for those hoping to delve deeper into the relationships between these characters. It's still fun to watch everyone interact, mind you, and the way the movie mixes and matches its characters brings a lot of laughs. Mario and Luigi get more screen time together, and that's a highlight, as is the introduction of Yoshi into the mix. There's just a distinct lack of breathing space in the film, making some of the narrative beats feel gratuitous. Only the duos of Bowser/Bowser Jr and Rosalina/Peach get some semblance of a backstory, offering an expansion of the larger Mario universe lore.

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If you were a fan of the cast the first time around, you'll be pleased again. Conversely, if some of the choices took you out of the movie, I don't think this one will change you. Where the first film played a bit more fast and loose with its performances, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie feels more faithful, if you can call it that. Brie Larson doesn't have much to do as Rosalina, but she fits the maternal archetype well. But the most surprising performance is Donald Glover's Yoshi. I won't say more than that, but I think he will get a lot of respect from the fans.

The Super Mario Galaxy movie lives up to its role as a crowd pleaser

I had a big smile throughout The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. It's funny, it's sweet, and it never fails to impress. If you were at all worried that Nintendo and Illumination would rush into a Super Smash Bros movie and shoehorn every cameo a la the MCU, rest assured that there's a respect for the Mario brand here that, while not without some unexpected appearances from some non-Mario characters, is sure to please even the most die-hard fans. I was particularly pleased with how the film handles its new characters.

Animation enables visual creativity that is simply impossible in live action, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie relishes every opportunity to pack his frame with outstanding detail and color. Its action sequences are well-choreographed and crisp, but most importantly, they're tons of fun to see realized on the big screen. With Donkey Kong and Kart Racing, The Super Mario Bros Movie had already expanded the definitions of what's possible in a Mario movie, but Super Mario Galaxy takes things to an even higher level. It's the powerful sequel that fans will love.