'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' review: Bigger universe, smaller impact

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

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I don’t think anyone is surprised to see that Illumination is still cashing in on its landmark relationship with Nintendo, slowly laying the groundwork for what’s shaping up to be the NCU (Nintendo Cinematic Universe). “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” builds on the same colorful foundation as its predecessor, but this time around the cracks are harder to ignore. The first film had the advantage of being the first animated Mario flick and boasting a generational earworm like “Peaches.” That freshness is gone and what’s left is a sequel packed with recognizable voices and characters, yet strangely, you’d be hard-pressed to guess which celebrities are voicing who.

The most notable addition is Yoshi, the lovable green dinosaur voiced by Donald Glover. And yet, not a single line reads as distinctly…his. The performance feels flattened, stripped of any personality that might have made it pop and even Jack Black, who was easily the standout last time, is sidelined for long stretches, reduced to a minuscule version of himself where the actor’s distinct flavor is watered down and his voice sounds like a chipmunk. 

He still manages to squeeze something out of Bowser when given the chance, but the film rarely lets him. Meanwhile, Chris Pratt’s Mario, Charlie Day’s Luigi and newcomer Brie Larson as Rosalina all blend together into a blur of interchangeable voices with little to latch onto. 

At a certain point, it almost feels pointless to nitpick too hard. This is a movie owned by Nintendo, a company not exactly known for handing over creative freedom. You’re not getting the loose, inventive energy that Phil Lord and Chris Miller brought to “The LEGO Movie,” or the distinct voice Greta Gerwig infused into “Barbie.” Instead, the film plays it safe to a fault, delivering a story that exists mainly as a vehicle for carefully placed Easter eggs meant to trigger recognition and nostalgia, but they rarely amount to anything of substance. If you’re here for little nuggets, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” delivers in droves.

To the film’s credit, the world-building is still top-tier. Illumination, along with directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, absolutely nails the look and feel of this universe. Each environment bursts with color, texture, and that unmistakable Nintendo polish. There are stretches where the movie genuinely captures the magic of booting up an old NES for the first time, and that sense of childlike wonder really does get translated into crisp, modern animation.

But visuals can only carry so much. The story itself is paper thin, borrowing minor breadcrumbs from the 2007 Wii game to justify a full-length adventure. Rosalina is kidnapped by Bowser Jr. in the opening moments, kicking off a galaxy-hopping rescue mission that never quite finds its footing. Peach, voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy, jumps into action while Mario and Luigi are sidelined, left to watch over the Mushroom Kingdom alongside Yoshi, who stumbles into the movie and is then immediately part of the team. His introduction lasts all of three minutes. It’s abrupt, borderline lazy and yet, most kids won’t think twice about it. The movie banks on that familiarity, and honestly, it’s not a bad bet.

That said, much of the film runs on autopilot. There are bursts of fun and quick-hit gags that younger audiences will absolutely eat up, but the connective tissue just isn’t there. It’s a strange experience where the movie is constantly moving, yet also somehow stagnant. Things are happening, but very little of it feels consequential and it’s hard not to feel like these characters deserved more care, precision, and intention.

In addition to the familiar faces, we get a wave of new characters, including Wart (Luis Guzmán), the Honey Queen (Issa Rae), and even Fox McCloud (Glen Powell), who feels like a not-so-subtle tease for an inevitable “Super Smash Bros. Movie.” But what’s the point of stacking the roster if no one gets anything to do? In a video game, characters can exist as icons. In a movie, they need purpose. Here, too many of them are just taking up space.

Grade: C+ 

THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE is now playing in theaters.