Dir: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Brie Larson, Glen Powell, Issa Rae, Luis Guzman
With its whirlwind pace and a treasure trove of Nintendo easter eggs, this sequel is sure to dazzle younger fans, yet it never quite crafts the epic, galaxy-wide adventure that made the original game legendary
My fascination with film sparked my journey into writing reviews, and the thrill I find in movies is rivalled only by my deep love for video games. Since my childhood in the 90s, I have delighted in exploring countless digital worlds, losing myself in adventures spanning generations of consoles. Yet, it still amazes me that the magic of gaming has never truly made the leap from our living rooms to the cinema. For over thirty years, Hollywood has chased the elusive thrill of video game immersion, but despite a few brighter spots, most adaptations have stumbled and fallen flat.
Not only do studios struggle to recreate gaming’s immersive magic, but they also fumble with adapting video game stories. Some games sprawl across dozens of hours, while others, like family-friendly platformers, are almost barebones. Enter the most iconic and successful franchise of them all: “Super Mario”. Since the 1980s, this plucky Italian plumber has leapt across generations of Nintendo consoles, from the NES to the recently released Switch 2, charming players of all ages. It seemed only right that Mario would be the first video game hero to hit the big screen in 1993, but the resulting “Super Mario Bros.” film was a spectacular disaster, seemingly setting the trend for most adaptations that followed.
Trying to squeeze hours of interactive adventure into a 90-minute film is a losing battle, as recent TV hits like “The Last of Us”, “Fallout”, and “The Witcher” have shown by thriving with longer, episodic storytelling. Still, Hollywood keeps swinging, chasing box office gold rather than critical acclaim. Take the last Mario movie: “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” from three years ago. Critics tore it apart for its flimsy plot and lack of cohesion, but fans embraced its loyalty to the games, especially when compared to the oddball live-action version from decades ago. That fan devotion propelled it to become the highest-grossing video game movie ever.
With a staggering $1.36 billion in box office receipts and a treasure trove of Mario lore to draw from, Nintendo and Illumination’s sequel announcement in 2024 surprised no one. While kids who adored the first film embraced the announcement, I found myself on the sceptical side, having walked away from the original feeling it was little more than cheap, glossy fan service.
Mario’s second animated adventure draws inspiration from the beloved “Super Mario Galaxy” game, which first dazzled players on the Wii in 2007. The story introduces Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) to the movie franchise as the gentle guardian of the star-like Lumas. When Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) kidnaps Rosalina, scheming to siphon her cosmic power for a planet-shattering cannon to honour his father, Bowser (Jack Black), the stakes soar. With Bowser still shrunken and locked away by Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) after his defeat by Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), Bowser Jr. sets out to rescue him.
When a Luma pleads for help, Peach and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) embark on a daring rescue mission of their own to free a captive Rosalina, entrusting Mario, Luigi, and their new dinosaur ally Yoshi (Donald Glover) with the safety of the Mushroom Kingdom. But with Bowser Jr. determined to free his father and seize control, Mario and his friends launch into the stars, racing to save Rosalina and stop the Bowsers from conquering the galaxy.
Before I dive into critiquing Illumination’s second Mario adventure, I have to admit I am not the intended audience. Like many, I grew up with Mario and Nintendo, but “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” appears to be aimed purely at younger viewers, leaning into a tone and humour that feels more like a children’s cartoon than a true family film. Parents may appreciate the peace and quiet it brings for ninety minutes, but as a feature-length narrative, it needs to be more than just a beautifully animated yet empty distraction.
Much like the first film, this sequel is paper-thin in its story. There is a basic rescue mission—Mario and friends trying to save Rosalina from Bowser Jr.—which nods to the classic damsel-in-distress formula of the games, but beyond that, the film offers little substance. Character growth is non-existent, with Bowser briefly hinting at a change of heart before reverting to type as soon as he reunites with his son. Most characters lack any real spark or depth, and even new additions like Rosalina and the unexpected Fox McCloud are left with nothing meaningful to do. Despite Rosalina being the centrepiece of a splashy and extensive marketing campaign, she spends most of the film side-lined and captive.
The voice casting is another stumbling block. While it is expected that studios like Illumination will recruit big names like Chris Pratt, there needs to be a spark—an actor willing to truly inhabit the character, even in voice alone. I have enjoyed Illumination’s previous hits like “Despicable Me” and “Minions”, largely because of their lively character work and memorable voice performances. Here, though, Pratt delivers a flat, uninspired Mario, never capturing the character’s signature quirks or warmth. The rest of the cast fares no better, except for Jack Black, who was a highlight as Bowser in the first film but is muted this time around as his character is reduced in size and presence, depriving us of the Tenacious D frontman’s iconic bellowing voice.
All the essentials of a solid film seem to have been sacrificed for a glittering avalanche of Easter eggs, celebrating forty-one years of Mario history. The movie is packed with nods to classic enemies, games, sidekicks, and locations, plus winks at other Nintendo franchises like “Pikmin” and, of course, “Star Fox”. Even real-world gadgets like R.O.B. and the Super Scope make appearances. While these call-backs might delight long-time fans, they mostly serve as a nostalgic smokescreen, masking the fact that the film is just a string of flashy, disconnected scenes. On the plus side, it is brisk and fast-paced—so although I left feeling overstimulated and weary from the sensory overload, I was never actually bored. Mamma Mia.
The Verdict:
After you sift through the avalanche of easter eggs and fan service in Mario’s second adventure from Illumination, you are left with a dazzling spectacle that offers little substance beneath its glossy surface. Kids everywhere will no doubt be enchanted, and with a post-credit tease and box-office numbers soaring, a third film feels inevitable. Fingers crossed for a “Super Mario Sunshine” adaptation next, at least.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now showing in UK Cinemas
Dan Loves Film 
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