TL;DR – I may have entered my curmudgeon phase, because while I could appreciate the stunning animation, the film completely disconnected from me on a foundational level.

Post-Credit Scene – There is a mid- and post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I received a free ticket from the distributor to watch this film.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Review Introduction

Well, today I have a sort of unpleasant job to do. I have much love for Mario and the games that spawned from him. I also found the first The Super Mario Bros. Movie was fine, not great, but fine. But maybe I no longer have any joy in my heart because I walked out of this movie feeling nothing.   

So, to set the scene, deep in the galaxy, Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) is giving her Lumas a bedtime story when her castle/spaceship/world is invaded by a mechanical creature driven by Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), who is on a mission of revenge for his father, Bowser (Jack Black). Meanwhile, Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are living full-time in the Mushroom Kingdom, going around helping the locals, like finding a stuck Yoshi (Donald Glover). But when a meteor storm shows something is wrong in the galaxy, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) go on an adventure through the stars.

The Good

While I had a lot of issues with the film, some parts did punch through. The first is the animation, which is some of Illumination’s best work. The detail in all the worlds they visit is stunning to see. I am sure those more familiar with the wider Nintendo world will be happy with all the Easter eggs found throughout the film. I am also glad that they kept Brian Tyler’s musical score this time around, rather than dumping ill-timed needle drops into the place as they did last time.

Some sequences did work, even though the film does not come together as a whole. I loved Yoshi’s introduction; it had the perfect balance of nostalgia and impact worthy of the character. I am also sure that Fox McCloud’s (Glen Powell) appearance would have had the same impact had they not spoiled it in all the marketing materials. There is a second fun scene with Yoshi and Toad. Still, I can’t get into it because of spoilers, but I can guarantee it is a delight. Also, the odd relationship between Bowser and his kid was fascinating, even if Bowser was a more interesting character when he was in miniature.   

The Bad

I’ve been trying to pinpoint why this film never clicked for me. I can’t tell you if it was the cast not connecting with me, or the cast doing their best, but the story fell flat, or most likely a combination of both. I just don’t think I bought Chris Pratt & Charlie Day’s performance of Mario and Luigi. It was a generic and flat performance, which is wild when you have cast Charlie Day. I never connected with the character’s emotions or drive. I mean, Charles Martinet gives one of the most iconic voices in the history of video games, and a flat, dull time is not that. Anya Taylor-Joy & Brie Larson bring a bit more to the equation, but not enough to balance things out. Though Donald Glover as Yoshi, no notes, perfect.    

Then we have the story, which felt less like a united whole, but more like a collection of sequences loosely held together by an overarching Nintendo vibe. There are some truly baffling choices made in this film, like a whole extended sequence set in a casino, for a film directed mainly at children. Sometimes, the story felt like the film was throwing a whole bunch of concepts at a wall, seeing what stuck, and going with it anyway. Sure, there are fun moments, like having a Super Smash Bros. illusion or a delightful cameo in the hangar bay. But a couple of fun moments don’t make a full film, they just build into the disconnect because you can see the promise that didn’t materialise.   

Recommendation

In the end, do we recommend The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Unfortunately, not. I am not sure what completely pulled me out of the film, but I can attest to the fact that I was not the only one in my screening who disconnected. Indeed, while the kids were generally engaged throughout the film, the biggest laugh in the entire runtime was when the Minions appeared in the Illumination title card right at the start.

Have you watched The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Let us know what you thought in the comments below. If you liked The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, we would recommend The Bad Guys 2 to you because, while it has the same grand adventure feel to it, the story and characters still connect with you.  

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Bluesky at @Tldrmovrev, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Feel free to share this review on social media and check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Directed by – Aaron Horvath & Michael Jelenic
Screenplay by – Matthew Fogel
Based on – Mario, Pikmin, Donkey Kong, and Star Fox by Nintendo
Music by – Brian Tyler
Edited by – Eric Osmond
Production/Distribution Companies – Nintendo, Illumination & Universal Pictures
Starring – Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Brie Larson, Donald Glover, Benny Safdie, Glen Powell, Luis Guzmán, Issa Rae, Kevin Michael Richardson, Eric Bauza, Juliet Jelenic, Ed Skudder, & Roxana Ortega
Rating – Australia: PG; Canada: PG; Germany: 6; New Zealand: PG; United Kingdom: PG; United States: PG