It is billion dollar box office-induced hubris for Nintendo to leap over “World” and go straight to “Galaxy.” The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is 90 minutes of overstuffed nonsense, filled to the brim with cameos, references, and explosions. The audience will be beaten over the head with Easter eggs and hidden bits of Mario lore, but it adds up to something less than cohesive. In the presentation for the film’s final trailer, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto said this film would be the centerpiece of the Mario franchise’s 40th anniversary, notably forgetting to mention any plans for a new Mario game. Miyamoto seems bewitched by Hollywood, forgetting what his actual job is. Galaxy is a shoddy substitute.
The film hits the ground running and never stops. Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie, not Adam Devine as you might assume) kidnaps the cosmic princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), using her to power his enormous Bowser planet he built from space rubble. A little Luma manages to escape, flying to Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) for aid. Peach and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) follow the star into space where they run up against an enormous collection of classic Mario baddies, big and small. They also enlist the help of a fast talking furry pilot named Fox McCloud (Glen Powell), who is NOT from the Mario universe but would seem to signal plans for some kind of Super Smash Bros. crossover film. Quick appearances from Pikmin, Little Mac, R.O.B., and Mr. Game & Watch hint towards this as well, ominously.
Where are Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day)? Mostly hanging out with the loveable Yoshi (Donald Glover, making noises), but they eventually get involved in the action. Not that I’m complaining, but there’s a lot less of Mario talking in this one. The screenwriters seem to have taken the criticisms of the first film to heart: the Mario Bros. have amped up their Brooklyn accents, there are far fewer hideous needledrops, and, as noted before, way more Mario characters popping up. They unfortunately did not internalize that they should write a better movie.
There’s too much happening and yet not enough. For a film with Galaxy in the title, there’s a real lack of Rosalina, one of the more interesting additions to the core game cast in recent years. What’s her deal? Is she God? Kind of! But the movie goes all in on a surprise secret backstory for her and Peach, canonizing something I hadn’t really thought about. What does it mean for the games? Probably nothing, especially if we’re not getting a new one this year. Our heroes fly through dozens of planets we’re meant to recognize and cheer for, but what’s really going on narratively? Is the movie about trying to change, like Bowser (Jack Black) and his attempts to walk back world domination? Is it about meeting new people, like Fox or Birdo? It doesn’t really matter, but it doesn’t help the feeling that I’m drifting through space with no purpose.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
2026
Dir. Aaron Horvath & Michael Jelenic
98 min
In theaters now!
