The best thing that I can say about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is that somewhere bubbling underneath its cinematic surface, there's a film with an abundance of heart and humanity trying to run, dash, and jump its way into our lives.
Unfortunately, co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic seem content to ride the waves of nostalgia instead of aiming for anything truly meaningful. Even the nostalgic vibes are minimal here with this Illumination Entertainment release tossing in so many other pop culture references that it's darn near impossible to get too overly sentimental about anything that's going on here.
Therein lies part of the problem. As an extreme newbie to the Super Mario Brothers universe, virtually everything that happens here is news to me. I've never played the game in my life, and I think I was fighting cancer when The Super Mario Brothers Movie arrived in theaters back in 2023. If it was anything like this film, I'll take chemo any day of the week.
Somewhat to its credit, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie doesn't really spend any of its 98-minute running time explaining itself. If you don't know the Mario Brothers rules, you'll at least get blissed with the eye-popping visuals. We quickly figure out that Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) is the baddie this time around, a young and impulsive Koopa determined to rescue and avenge his imprisoned father (Jack Black), the latter also suffering from a case of serious shrinkage. Princess-napping the lovely Rosalina (Brie Larson), Bowser Jr. triggers the obvious galaxy quest (about the only movie not referenced here) with our beloved plumber brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) high-tailing it to save Princess Peach, Rosalina, and others.
Along the way, we meet Donald Glover's Yoshi, quite likely the film's highlight, and Glen Powell's Han Solo-esque space pilot Fox McCloud.
There are moments, fleeting moments, when it seems as if we're going to cross that line into something a little more meaningful with the sisterly relationship between Princess Peach and Rosalina occasionally touching and the "Is he reformed or not?" Bowser struggling to balance his instincts with those lessons he's semi-learned about friendship and loyalty. Unfortunately, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie never really commits, fleeting touching moments being drowned out by excessive silliness and extended periods of downright boredom.
Beyond the obvious Star Wars references, Zootopia pop-ups, and obligatory Illumination cameos including, yes, Minions, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is visually impressive but otherwise pointless. When Horvath and Jelenic gave us the truly brilliant Teen Titans Go to the Movies!, you couldn't help but think that maybe just maybe we'd stumbled across our latest animation geniuses.
While that greatness still seems like it wants to come out and play, saddled with this lifeless material there's only so much to be done.
It's worth mentioning that the vocal work here is quite often impressive with Donald Glover's Yoshi a genuine joy, Benny Safdie's Bowser Jr. an exaggerated work of wonder, and Jack Black doing what only Jack Black can do among a rather strong ensemble.
Was I entertained by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Not in the least. Will your kiddo be entertained by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? My guess is that's a little more likely. Mario newbies may struggle a bit with these characters, their powers, and some of the world-building, but for those who treasure a nostalgic journey through the Mario Brothers universe, there may very well be enough here to please the diehards.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
