If I had to sum up “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” in five words, it would be hectic situations meeting incredible coincidences. Issue after issue arises, but the main cast clears each hurdle with sheer luck. Like the video game, the plot moves quickly and calls back to many other Nintendo franchises, creating an overall entertaining but shallow watch.
The movie begins with an introduction to Rosalina, the most powerful princess in the universe, who is immediately captured by Bowser Jr., the movie’s main antagonist. Hearing that Rosalina was taken, Princess Peach, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Yoshi travel through different galaxies to save her while fending off the two Bowsers. Alongside an action-packed storyline, I was impressed by the high-quality animation and enjoyed seeing nostalgic characters.
However, as I sat in my theater seat, I felt an uncomfortable urgency from the rushed scenes and confusion from illogical circumstances. Characters faced challenge after challenge with no break, and instead of addressing the constant pressure, they played it off with comedy.Even when a scene was meant to be emotional, I had a hard time relating to the characters. They seemed like robots with endless endurance and no grasp of human emotions. Their mission was to save Princess Rosalina, and it meant nothing more beyond that. The Bowsers’ objective to rule the world was also unclear. In my opinion, nothing in the movie has real direction or motive.
That’s not to say the film was a complete waste of time, but it is hard to notice everything done right when there is so much wrong. As a fan of the games, I enjoyed the references to other Nintendo characters, and I did laugh at the jokes. Still, comedy and niche references alone do not create an outstanding movie. Was the production well executed and a fun watch? Absolutely. But was the story lacking in reason and emotion? Also yes. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is an entertaining way to spend a movie night with the family, but if you’re looking for something truly life-changing, it doesn’t hit the mark.
