Illumination and Nintendo’s latest collaboration delivers one of the most visually striking animated films of the year in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, building vibrant worlds that feel lifted straight from the source material. But beneath the polish, the film struggles to find a narrative backbone, offering little meaningful story progression or character development.
That tension defines the experience. Composer Brian Tyler injects energy throughout and the action sequences are consistently lively, giving the film a sense of momentum. A talented voice cast, including Glen Powell, Brie Larson, Jack Black, and Chris Pratt, brings charm and personality to their roles, but not enough to elevate the film beyond forgettable.
The result is an adventure that’s easy to watch in the moment, propelled by spectacle and sound, but one that ultimately fades just as quickly.
Related: Check out the review for The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Overview
After Princess Rosalina (Larson) is kidnapped by Bowser Jr.(Bennie Safie), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) sets out to save her long-lost sister. Toad joins her, with Mario (Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), and Yoshi (Donald Glover) soon following. What unfolds is less a cohesive narrative and more a tour through game-inspired worlds.
Each setting looks incredible, with animation that consistently delivers eye-catching detail and scale. Tyler’s score elevates nearly every moment, adding urgency and excitement. Still, for all its beauty, the film rarely finds emotional footing.
The frustration isn’t the absence of story, but the film’s reluctance to follow through on its own ideas. Threads are introduced, then quickly abandoned in favor of the next set piece. Peach provides the clearest arc, building on her desire to understand her origins. That focus effectively positions her as the film’s lead, with Mario functioning more as a secondary presence. Bowser (Jack Black) hints at a shift away from villainy, but that turn lacks proper setup and payoff.
The new characters offer some of the film’s most engaging moments. Rosalina is underused but compelling whenever she appears. Yoshi brings a welcome sense of energy to the group dynamic. Star Fox, voiced by Powell, stands out as the most memorable addition. The film teases a rivalry between Fox and Mario, but quickly abandons it. As with much of the film, promising dynamics are introduced, then left behind.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn’t terrible. The film remains consistently entertaining, driven by momentum and visual creativity. There’s a world here worth investing in. It just needs a stronger story to match.
Peach and Mario’s Odyssey in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
The film opens on a strong note, with Rosalina reading a story that neatly recaps key events from the first movie. It’s a warm, character-driven moment that quickly shifts when Bowser Jr. crashes the scene. He arrives with a clear goal: capture Rosalina and harness her power. The sequence is visually inventive, filled with mechanical contraptions and chaotic energy. Rosalina holds her own, balancing defense with protecting her children, but she’s ultimately overwhelmed.
That urgency carries forward when one of her children escapes to the Mushroom Kingdom. Peach learns of her sister’s kidnapping, a connection she barely remembers but immediately feels compelled to pursue. It’s one of the film’s more promising emotional threads, giving Peach a clear motivation from the outset. She leaves Mario, Luigi and Yoshi to protect the kingdom in her absence.
Back in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and Luigi are now minor celebrities after their previous adventure. Their dynamic remains light and playful, especially when they encounter Yoshi during a routine plumbing job. Yoshi brings a fun, chaotic energy, and his interactions with Luigi add consistent humor. Much of that humor centers on Mario’s obvious feelings for Peach, which the film leans into often.
There are hints of something more meaningful between Mario and Peach, particularly during her birthday celebration. Peach reflects on her uncertain origins, grounding her arc in something personal. Mario’s awkward attempts to connect with her add charm, and there’s a clear suggestion of mutual affection. Still, like many of the film’s ideas, this thread never fully develops, leaving emotional potential on the table.
Bowser’s redemption?
Bowser’s storyline begins on an intriguing, if slightly puzzling, note. He’s still a diminished prisoner in the Mushroom Kingdom when Mario and Luigi visit him. Bowser claims he’s changed, striking a more reflective tone than expected. Luigi is willing to believe him, while Mario remains skeptical. The idea of a reformed Bowser is compelling, but the film offers little groundwork to support that shift.
Things escalate quickly once Bowser Jr. attacks and destroys the castle. In the aftermath, Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser form an uneasy alliance to reach Peach. The film hints at something more layered. Bowser reflects on his shortcomings as a father, adding a rare moment of vulnerability. The dynamic is further lightened by comedic beats, including Bowser accidentally powering up after hitting a mushroom.
For a stretch, the film commits to this version of Bowser. He works alongside Mario and even offers to stay behind as a sacrifice to help the others escape. It’s a meaningful gesture that suggests real growth, or at least the possibility of it.
But when Bowser reunites with Bowser Jr., that momentum stalls. There’s a brief hesitation, a flicker of internal conflict, before the film abruptly pivots. Bowser is pushed back into full villain mode with little explanation. Like many of the film’s arcs, what begins as a promising thread is ultimately left underdeveloped.
Barrel Roll
Star Fox emerges as the film’s most engaging new addition, bringing a confident, Han Solo–like swagger to every scene he’s in. He enters at a pivotal moment, when Peach needs a pilot willing to take a dangerous journey across the galaxy. Fox fits that role perfectly, offering both skill and attitude, and immediately elevating the energy of the sequence.
When Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi arrive, the film briefly teases a more complicated dynamic. Mario shows flashes of jealousy over Fox’s easy rapport with Peach, hinting at a potential rivalry. Instead, the tone quickly shifts. Fox compliments Mario’s mustache, Mario admires Fox’s ship, and the moment turns into an unexpectedly fun show of mutual respect.
There’s real potential in that interaction, suggesting a different kind of chemistry than the Donkey Kong–Mario dynamic from the first film. A light bromance could have given the film a strong interpersonal throughline.
Unfortunately, the story doesn’t leave room for it to develop. The second and third acts juggle too many characters and locations, constantly moving forward without settling into these relationships. As a result, Fox remains memorable in the moment but ultimately underutilized, another strong idea the film doesn’t fully explore.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Final Thoughts
In the end, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a film that understands the appeal of its world, but not quite how to anchor it. The visuals are consistently stunning, with each new setting offering something inventive and worth taking in. Illumination continues to push its animation forward, delivering a film that feels big in scale, even when the story is mostly absent.
There’s also no denying the film’s energy. The pacing rarely drags, the action is easy to follow, and Tyler’s score keeps everything moving with purpose and fun callbacks. It’s a movie that’s designed to entertain moment to moment, and on that level, it succeeds more often than not. Younger audiences, in particular, will likely find plenty to enjoy in the constant motion and colorful spectacle.
But for all its strengths, the film struggles to leave a lasting impression. Nearly every character is introduced with a compelling idea or direction, only for those threads to be dropped before they can fully develop. Peach’s journey, Bowser’s potential redemption, and the dynamic between Mario and Star Fox all hint at something deeper, but never quite get there.
That’s what ultimately holds the film back. It isn’t lacking in ideas, but in commitment to them. There’s a richer, more emotionally engaging story just beneath the surface that never materializes.
Still, the foundation is there. If a future installment can match this level of visual ambition with stronger storytelling, this franchise could reach another level entirely.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
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Average - 5/105/10
