The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review: a chaotic, cameo-filled sequel

Nintendo and Illumination’s sequel is less focused than The Super Mario Bros. Movie, spanning a galaxy full of Super Mario references

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is aptly named. Nintendo and Illumination Entertainment’s previous Mario animated film, 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, is largely about brothers Mario and Luigi discovering a new home and finding purpose beyond plumbing, exhibiting a twinge of character growth along the way. The sequel is instead focused on expanding the Nintendo Cinematic Universe with a constellation of new characters (many of whom have too little to do in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie) and an emptiness that rivals outer space.

Much of what we said about The Super Mario Bros. Movie applies to its sequel. Just like its predecessor, Galaxy is stuffed with references to Mario games released over the past 40 years, and it relies on nostalgia and dazzling visuals to carry a paper-thin plot. The sequel is even less focused, yanking in references from across the Nintendo IP library to fill the gaps between story beats.

But even I was not immune to some of its charms. Seeing missing-in-action Super Mario Bros. 2 villains like Wart (Luis Guzmán), Mouser, and Clawgrip on screen in one of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s best action scenes was the highlight of the experience.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens by paying off promises from The Super Mario Bros. Movie and introducing three major new characters: Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), Yoshi (Donald Glover), and Bowser’s long-neglected son, Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie). Rosalina quickly falls victim to a classic Super Mario Bros. trope, and becomes a damsel in distress: Bowser Jr. kidnaps her as part of his plan to power a super-weapon and exact revenge for his father, who ended the previous film as a (tiny) prisoner of the Mushroom Kingdom.

To introduce the third major new addition, Mario and Luigi venture to the Sand Kingdom to investigate a sighting of a mysterious monster, who happens to be the adorable Yoshi. While the introduction of a cute new ally brings some fun gags — many of them related to Yoshi swallowing things and pooping them out as eggs — a subplot about Toad being jealous of Mario and Luigi’s new dinosaur pal is half-baked. Yoshi is little more than a cute, merch-friendly steed in Galaxy — though Glover turns in a charming performance as the high-pitched dino who only says “Yoshi!”

One bright spot in the movie is the relationship between Bowser and his son, thanks in no small part to the combined energies of Safdie as Bowser Jr. and returning scene-stealer Jack Black as the original King Koopa. Bowser is once again a breakout character, as he wrestles with anger issues and turmoil over his capabilities as a father. Safdie smartly plays Bowser Jr. like a perfect little shit, but he’s also a solid movie villain.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie also takes some welcome swings at diverse animation styles, in the form of a convincing puppet show put on by Bowser; an illustrated flashback scene involving the Star Fox team; and homages to 8-bit Super Mario games. There's more here than just the hyper-stylized Illumination animation style, and a potential peek at future Nintendo spin-offs with their own aesthetics.

For better or worse, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie doesn’t attempt to recreate the memeable magic of the previous film’s “Peaches” tune, sung by Bowser. Musically, the sequel plays it safe, with Brian Tyler’s score relying on reworked clips from classic Mario video game soundtracks. But in what seems to be a major capitulation to the haters, Galaxy is largely devoid of the pop-song needle drops that plagued The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Only one stood out to me: a memorable instrumental version of The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize” that helps sell a montage moment set in Brooklyn.

Outside of a few cameos that elder Nintendo fans will likely have to explain to their younger kids and siblings, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie doesn’t offer many surprises. The movie’s speedy plot and 98-minute run time help keep boredom at bay, and Illumination largely sticks to the chase-and-rescue structure of the previous Mario movie. Anyone hoping for a more mature plot or emotional weight should probably resign themselves now: Galaxy tees up endless potential sequels and spinoffs, and it looks like the Super Mario moviemaking machine not only has a proven formula at this point, it’s sticking with it.

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The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens in theaters on April 1.