The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the inevitable sequel to the 2023 billion dollar plus box office taking The Super Mario Bros arriving just in time for school holidays. The action is colourful and frequent and the storyline, while a little predictable, has enough points of interest to make it an entertaining film for most of the family.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie begins with Princess Rosalina (voiced by Brie Larson) reading bedtime stories to her Lumas star-like children before she is abducted by Bowser Jr. (voiced by Benny Safdie) following an action-packed fight sequence. The film then shifts to Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) and Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day) racing through a red desert on motor bikes then discovering Yoshi (voiced by Donald Glover) stuck in a warp pipe. Back in the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy) discovers that Princess Rosalina has been abducted and she sets out into the galaxy to save her. Mario and Luigi keep the peace in the Kingdom while Princess Peach is away and this is also where Bowser (voiced by Jack Black) is being kept. Bowser has been made small and is in therapy for his past wrongs. Mario, Luigi and Bowser soon too set out to look for Princess Peach as all their adventures unfold.
The film is based on the 2007 Super Mario Galaxy video game and the 2010 Super Mario Galaxy 2 sequel as well as the whole Mario franchise however the story moves well beyond its origins. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic return from The Super Mario Bros and they have produced a vivid and vibrant film that keeps screenwriter Matthew Fogel’s (also from the original) script moving at speed.
While the importance of their star power to the marketing of this and the original film of such big names to voice the characters is undisputed, the inclusion of voices of Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Brie Larson, Jack Black, Keegan Michael Key, Charlie Day, Benny Safdie and others does little to add to the film.
Long term Nintendo fans will be heartened by references to Nintendo classics like Fox McCloud (voiced by Glen Powell) and the NES’s R.O.B. (voiced by Ed Skudder) as well as other easter eggs.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a good family film with something for almost everyone (including Nintendo tragics) which is bright and fast-paced and perfect for the school holidays.
Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
Rating 3.5 out of 5
YouTube trailer: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Final Trailer
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens in cinemas today
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Classic video games characters in fast-paced fun adventure.
