This article contains spoilers!
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hit the big screens with lots of excitement and high expectations. After the first movie grossed over $1.3 billion at the global box office, many fans had high expectations for the second film.
The movie opens with Princess Rosalina being captured by Bowser Jr. in an effort to seize her powers so he can create Planet Bowser and use the Boomsday device to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and Toad travel the galaxy together to save her and the planet from destruction. Mario and his crew have to travel through different lands and fight strong foes to ultimately rescue Rosalina and save the mushroom kingdom from annihilation.
To start off, the movie was visually exceptional. The colors of the film were vibrant and appealing, as every scene was carefully crafted with contrasting colors and rich details specifically in scenes in outer space or in faraway lands. The animation was smooth and the fight scenes had fluid motion. Additionally, the movie had lots of easter eggs and details from other Mario and Nintendo games for eager fans to spot.
Despite its endearing qualities, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie had more negatives weighing it down. The storyline felt bland with no real excitement or entertaining plot; instead, it focused on multiple side plots that didn’t add much value to the movie. There were no emotional or sad scenes, and the final fight felt rushed, as they encountered and defeated both Bowser and Bowser Jr. relatively quickly. Additionally, though Bowser had a massive Koopa army of turtle-like soldiers shown in multiple scenes, the army was nowhere to be found in the final battle.
Along with the hastiness of the fight, the movie also seemed to heavily rely on nostalgia. The easter eggs were fun to look out for; however, due to their overuse and irrelevance, it felt as though the references were only there for the sake of having them. Scenes with these rushed appearances ruined the portrayal of iconic Mario characters such as Yoshi, Pauline, and others.
Beyond the rushed pacing and the almost crowded screen, the film’s cast raised some eyebrows with a lot of A-list celebrities taking on major roles, such as Jack Black, Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and more. Their voice acting in the movie made it feel as if most of the focus went toward the actors getting good roles and lines, and not toward the overall plot.
Ultimately, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie seemed to force the audience to decide what they care about and value most in a cinematic adaptation: plot or authenticity. In the original Nintendo Wii game, Rosalina’s backstory created a rare sense of grief and longing. However, the film completely glosses over her emotional journey and opts to use her as a simple plot device instead.
For viewers who are seeking a deep and engaging story, the film’s hyperactive, one-joke-a-minute structure will make expectations fall flat. But for those looking for a vibrant, visually stunning film full of Mario references, the film provides just enough substance to keep viewers interested.
