“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is more of a testament to showcase how far the animation industry has come artistically, rather than a film with a meaningful plot. Directed by Aaron Horvath and others, the film is a vibrant, action-packed space adventure featuring more nostalgic characters from the Super Mario universe.
I will be unpacking my praises and criticisms of Illumination’s second adaptation of the Super Mario universe. Following the previous film, Mario and his friends take on a new threat, Bowser Jr., who is determined to follow in his father’s destructive footsteps.
The film introduces Princess Rosalina, voiced by Brie Larson, who reunites with Princess Peach, voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy. I greatly enjoyed watching these fan favorite ladies dominate in battle while also being caring and kind. While Peach was portrayed as a damsel in distress in early Nintendo games, here she is a force to be reckoned with, effortlessly taking down armies of enemies with only a parasol and bravery. Rosalina’s protective motherly instincts also shone through in battle. Where Mario and Luigi struggled, Peach and Rosalina succeeded while wearing heels.
The wide variety of planets and colorful worlds the characters travel through during the movie is evidence of the extensive effort the directors and artists poured into world-building, set design and artistic considerations. Seeing familiar faces from the games I grew up playing — such as Shy Guys and Yoshi — brought a smile to my face and a sense of nostalgia.
Compared to its 2023 predecessor, the film places a greater emphasis on action and combat scenes. I enjoyed watching the characters use the classic Super Mario power-ups while also introducing new weapons as the stakes grew higher with each battle
The relationship between Bowser and his son, Bowser Jr., voiced by Jack Black and Benny Safdie, respectively, is absolutely adorable and extremely problematic. Bowser Jr.’s enthusiasm to be like his father is endearing but misguided, while Bowser’s authority is undermined by how easily he is manipulated by his own son, something I assume some parents can reluctantly relate to. Kids can be excellent negotiators when they want to be.
Although the film is geared towards young audiences and would lack the storytelling depth I usually enjoy, I could not help but notice its minimal character development. The film jumped from one planet to the next as if to distract the viewer from the shallow storyline. Of course, the plot can only venture so deep into video game characters originally designed to hop over obstacles and eat mushrooms. Still, I did not find myself as invested in the film’s outcome as I would have liked.
It also seemed that the film was trying to stuff in as many character cameos as possible into one hour and thirty-eight minutes to the point where it felt unnecessary. One example that comes to mind is the random scene where Mario and Luigi are turned into babies, a silent nod towards the Mario Kart games, and then chased by a T. rex, an acknowledgment of Super Mario Odyssey. Nor did I see the point of introducing Fox McCloud, voiced by Glen Powell, from a completely different video game universe, except for a nostalgic moment of novelty.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is like a painting one admires once, then moves along. Visually extraordinary and laden with video game easter eggs, but lacking a rich plot, watching it once is enough.
Elena Mendonsa can be reached at [email protected]
