'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Review: A nostalgic blast for Nintendo fans
Our two favorite mustached plumbers are back — for an adventure that's out of this world.
The events of "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" take place after its 2023 predecessor. Mario and Luigi (Chris Pratt and Charlie Day) continue to provide safety and piping services throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) continues to wear her crown, and Bowser (Jack Black), still pocket-sized after being fed a mini mushroom at the end of the previous film, is being held prisoner in what can amount to be a Bowser-style dollhouse inside Peach's castle.
However, in a galaxy far, far away, Bowser's son Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) is plotting his own scheme which involves kidnapping Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), the powerful watcher of the cosmos — first introduced in the 2007 "Super Mario Galaxy" video game, and using her powers to fuel his super weapon that will destroy the entire galaxy — and also break out his father from Peach's castle.
Fan favorites join Mario and Luigi on their journey with old pals like Toad (Keegan Michael-Key) returning while being introduced to new ones like the adorably mischievous Yoshi (Donald Glover).
Any person under 50 likely has some sort of connection to Nintendo and the Mario Bros., who have brought joy to hundreds of millions of video game players around the world across their 40-year existence. Co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and screenwriter Matthew Fogel, all returning from the first film, are clearly fans of the source material. The genuine affection they must have for all the Mario games truly comes through on the screen based on how they're able to incorporate so much in 100 minutes.
And what's amazing is that there's still so much untapped material between all the characters and games that can be incorporated down the road — Universal and Illumination can be on the cusp of a Nintendo cinematic universe if handled correctly.
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Like the video games themselves, "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" is incredibly fun. Jack Black gets some of the funniest material as Bowser, who attempts to convince Mario that he's turned a new leaf and that he should be released for "awesome behavior." And Donald Glover's Yoshi is simply infectious.
Viewers will truly feel immersed in the Mario universe by the dazzling, vibrant animation. And composer Brian Tyler masterfully incorporates the iconic music from various games into his robust score.
And a disclaimer for the super fans: there are two post-credit scenes to check out — one of them is hilarious callback while the other teases an inevitable third installment.
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Perhaps I'm biased but as lifelong Super Mario fan, I couldn't stop smiling. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" is a joy for both kids and their nostalgic parents. Not only does it exceed its predecessor, it lays the groundwork for much more fun ahead — and we'll be anxiously waiting.