Here we gooooooo… again.
In The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, we are reintroduced to Mario and Luigi (Chris Pratt and Charlie Day) as they warp between their home of New York and Peach’s castle. However, their world is upended after Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) arrives to rescue his imprisoned father, Bowser (Jack Black). At the same time, Peach and Toad (Anya Taylor-Joy and Keegan-Michael Key) are enlisted to help free the mysterious Rosalina (Brie Larson), leader of the Lumas, from Bowser Jr.’s clutches, leading Peach to discover more about her past than she could have ever known.
Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is another wild adventure for Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach in the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. Yet, despite the frenetic fun, one can’t help but thing that there’s something missing from Toad’s proverbial backpack this time around.
To be clear, it’s not that Super Mario Galaxy isn’t enjoyable. In fact, it has a lot of things in its favour, especially when it comes to its visuals. With vibrant colour splashed across the screen, Galaxy looks stunning, especially in its 4K transfer. This is the sort of film that’s designed to dazzle with a palette that continuously pops. Whether we’re watching Rosalina’s magic, Starfox’s barrel rolls or Bowser Jr.’s attacks, every scene is fueled with creativity and style, creating an experience that will no doubt entrance children of all ages.
What’s more, whereas the first film focused on the brotherly bond between Mario and Luigi, the second allows the women to take centre stage. By delving into Peach’s past, Galaxy empowers the oft-damsel in distress by allowing her to demonstrate the true strength of her character. Teamed with Rosalina, the film does an excellent job of elevating its female characters and, in the process, revealing the sort of power that can come only when women stand up for one another.
And, of course, the addition of Starfox adds another character that feels like you’re reconnecting with a long-lost friend. As his first appearance onscreen, Starfox adds a fresh face to the Mario universe. Voiced by Glen Powell, Foxie steps into the film like an action hero, bringing swagger and rogue-ish style to the big screen. (It’s also worth noting that the addition of Bowser Jr. also adds another dimension of joyful chaos of the cinematic world that Nintendo has created.)
Having said this, Galaxy’s largest issue is the fact that it focuses entirely too much on nostalgic audience moments. While the first film took a similar strategy, Galaxy doubles down on scenes that are designed solely for reactions as opposed to any semblance of storytelling. While there is a narrative flow, plot threads are held together very loosely for the sake of epic visuals. To children (or, frankly, long-time fans of the franchise), this may be enough. For the casual fan, however, it will likely leave them wanting something… more.
In a lot of ways, it’s like eating a bowl of jelly beans. In the moment, it’s colourful and fun. Yet, afterwards, you’re not entirely sure it was a good idea.
Even so, there’s no question that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie remains another party for its fans. It’s sleek, super-sized and silly in ways that work well enough that still manage to entertain. It’s the sort of film that one can spend hours simply looking for their favourite Nintendo Easter Eggs in the background as they trek through countless worlds of colour. Just be aware that, beyond the digital mayhem that ensues, there isn’t much left for those who are looking for something deeper than the bottom of a warp pipe.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is available on 4K & Blu-ray on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026.
