“Thank you, Mario. But a better movie is in another castle.”
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE has top-tier Illumination animation paired with a script that feels like it’s produced by AI. It’s an odd marriage of two things, since in theory, this should’ve been a great movie. But it’s not.
Super Mario games are known for being fun. Look, I’m not expecting a story on the level of Pixar when I go to see THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE. However, I am expecting to have a good time. And even at the biggest screen in Santa Barbara filled with kids, there wasn’t much laughter or smiles from the audience.
Where I can give props to the film is in three things (outside of the animation):
- Voice Acting: Absolute win. Jack Black as Bowser is perfection, and Donald Glover as Yoshi is inspired. The cast brings way more life than the script ever does.
- Easter Eggs: They are “fan”-tastic. Seeing the various references to Nintendo’s legacy will be the one area in the experience that’s sure to make audiences smile.
- Bowser: I never thought I’d say that one of the greatest video game villains of all time would also have the most depth in the Mario films. And in GALAXY, he proves to be the heart and soul of the film with his love for Peach and his shame towards his son, Bowser Jr. It’s compelling, and he is not given nearly enough screen time.
Final Thought: THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE might be able to rack up “coins” at the box office, yet if this franchise hopes to “1-up” the current video game GOATED movie, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, it will have to learn to slow down on the references and focus back to what makes Nintendo great. The fun.
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE is in theatres now.
