There is so much hectic action on screen that one cannot hear oneself think, which is somewhat of a good thing, as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie does not offer anything radically new in terms of story. Frenetic action, bright colours, and competent voice work manage to rescue the animated adventure from plumbing the depths of tedium.
A sequel to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, with directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and the main cast returning, this film is based on Nintendo’s 2007 video game, Super Mario Galaxy.
The Plot: A Rescue Mission in Space
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Mario | Chris Pratt |
| Princess Peach | Anya Taylor-Joy |
| Luigi | Charlie Day |
| Bowser | Jack Black |
| Princess Rosalina | Brie Larson |
| Yoshi | Donald Glover |
| Fox McCloud | Glen Powell |
Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), the adoptive mother of the star-shaped Lumas, is kidnapped by Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) to prove once and for all that he is worthy of his villain dad, Bowser (Jack Black).
Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) has shrunk Bowser and imprisoned him in her castle. Mario (Chris Pratt) and his brother Luigi (Charlie Day) are in charge of Bowser’s rehabilitation.
When a Luma crash-lands at Peach’s birthday party and tells of Princess Rosalina’s kidnapping, Mario and the gang go to the rescue. They are helped on their quest by a mercenary space pilot, Fox McCloud (Glen Powell), and a bored honey bee queen (Issa Rae) from Honeyhive Galaxy.
What Works: Action, Easter Eggs, and Voice Work
| Aspect | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Action Sequences | Frenetic, bright, and reminiscent of the game |
| Easter Eggs | Fans of the game will enjoy the callbacks |
| Voice Work | Competent; Black and Pratt give their 110% |
| Visual Highlights | Chase over dinosaur bridge; casino scene reminiscent of Jamiroquai’s ‘Virtual Insanity’ |
The action sequences, especially when the brothers are left in charge of the Mushroom Kingdom and plant flags as they battle threats, are reminiscent of the game. The chase over the dinosaur bridge in Fossil Falls is pretty cool. The sequence where Peach and Toad breach the crime boss Wart’s casino bends reality in the nicest possible way.
What Doesn’t: Lack of Story and Humour
| Aspect | Critique |
|---|---|
| Story | Offers nothing radically new |
| Character Arcs | Father-son (Bowser & Jr) and sibling (Peach & Rosalina) arcs are introduced but abandoned |
| Fox McCloud | A terrible shame; wasted potential |
| Humor | Practically no humour in a film supposed to be a comedy |
The movie portrays a bunch of relationships but then loses interest and leaves them stranded. The same goes for Powell’s piratical McCloud, which is a terrible shame.
There is a lot of running, catching, falling, and jumping, which gets exhausting after a while.
The Verdict
The film would keep the “bachcha party” engrossed, and parents can take the precious 90 minutes on offer for shut-eye in air-conditioned comfort. For everyone else, it’s a frenetic but forgettable sequel that relies on action over imagination.
