The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – Review

If you’re looking for a film to entertain the whole family, then The Super Mario Galaxy Movie should be at the top of your list.

It is currently the number one film in the world, and that’s because audiences absolutely love it. This isn’t a film that tries to tell a deeply meaningful story. It’s simply something the whole family can enjoy together.

It’s action-packed and keeps the story simple. There isn’t much to analyse in this film, except that it pays tribute to the Nintendo video games. In the film, Princess Rosalina is kidnapped by Bowser Jr. Princess Peach then decides she must go and rescue the other princess. Mario and Luigi step in to help, and they are joined by their new friend, Yoshi.

Famous voices

I’m not sure whether people are still upset that Chris Pratt voices Mario, but I enjoyed him in the role. Charlie Day is once again excellent as Luigi, as is the rest of the cast, including Keegan-Michael Key as Toad. Of course, Anya Taylor-Joy is perfect as Peach. The film simply wouldn’t have worked without Jack Black as Bowser, and I’m glad he’s back.

Benny Safdie voices Bowser Jr., and honestly, I like what he does with the character’s voice. It comes across as threatening, yet at the same time vulnerable and occasionally childlike. Yoshi is voiced by Donald Glover, and although the character doesn’t say much, I think he was the perfect choice.

Glen Powell plays Fox McCloud, a role he seems born for. Princess Rosalina is voiced by Brie Larson, and I think she fits the role perfectly. She’s a big fan of Super Mario and Nintendo games, so it makes sense that she would bring her best to the part.

I know this film has a strong cast, but the short runtime doesn’t really allow much room for character development. Part of me understands that they simply wanted to make an entertaining film, but spending a bit more time with these characters would have worked wonders. I especially would have liked more of Yoshi – he’s just too cute.

Homage

Where the story falls short, it makes up for in visual effects. The film uses various animation styles to portray different scenes. It also pays homage to the games by including sequences that look as though they came straight out of an 8-bit Super Mario Bros. video game.

That’s not all – we also get some 2D animated scenes, which I think are well done. The film is called The Super Mario Galaxy Movie for a reason. We see worlds in this universe that look absolutely incredible on the big screen. It all adds to the excitement of the film and opens the door for new stories within this franchise.

Overall, I think the film is simply good entertainment. It’s funny and definitely brings back a few childhood memories. I do have to take off a few points for the weak storyline and unnecessarily short runtime.

I know some film critics don’t like this movie, but it isn’t for them. It’s for gamers, Super Mario fans, and all the kids who still love films.

I give The Super Mario Galaxy Movie 3 out of 5 stars.