REVIEW: ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Is a Fun, Nostalgic Filled Ride
Mario and Luigi are back for the all-new adventure in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Based on the character created by Nintendo, Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) and Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day) are headed to the galaxy to help save Princess Rosalina (voiced by Brie Larson) from the tiny, but feisty, Bower Jr. (voiced by Benny Safdie). Joining them on their adventure are Princess Peach (voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and the adorable Yoshi (voiced by Donald Glover).
The Super Mario Bros. Movie directors, Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic reunite with the movie’s writer Matthew Fogel, to bring this new tale to life. Is the story perfect, no. Is it entertaining, absolutely! The callbacks to the video games are more noticeable this time around than they were in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. From the game play screens to the movie’s score, the audience is constantly reminded of where these characters adapted from. However, for beloved fans of the Mario games, and those looking for an amazing Galaxy adaptation, you are not going to find it here. The story plays out more like an Odessey game rather than a Galaxy game. Each of the main characters travels through a variety of different kingdoms before they really head to the galaxy, where the real story lies. Audiences explored the kingdoms with Mario in the first movie, now Fogel’s mission was to take these characters on an extraterrestrial adventure. Princess Rosalina, who should have played a major part in the story based solely on the title of the movie, took a backseat. This misstep created an almost chaotic storyline that is ultimately saved by cameos, nostalgic music, and funny dialogue.
Pratt and Day return to voice Mario and Luigi. Unlike the first movie where Mario was indeed the lead, this movie is a pure ensemble picture. There are too many characters featured throughout because it is not too bad. Pratt and Day do just as good of a job as they did in the first movie, the only exception is you don’t hear from them as much. Anya Taylor-Joy’s Peach plays a significant role in the movie, which allows for Taylor-Joy to really flourish. Yoshi, who is new to the Super Mario Movie franchise as very little lines, but you would never have known it was Donald Glover voicing the character based off the performance.
Keegan-Michael Key’s Toad gets less screen time this time around, which is a shame because his performance in the first movie was one of the major highlights. Joining newcomer Donald Glover to the Super Mario family is Glen Powell. Powell joins the cast of Nintendo favorite, Fox McCloud. Leader of the Star Fox combat team, Powell does a beautiful job playing the cocky pilot. He was a welcomed addition to the story.
Overall, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is an enjoyable ride fit for all. No matter if you are a Mario fan or not, there is something in it for everyone. I will note if you are expecting a thought-provoking story this will not be for you. However, if you go on with an open mind you are going to have a wonderful time.
Grade: A