Written By Mauricio Segura // Image: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
When the credits rolled on the first Super Mario Bros. Movie back in 2023, the question wasn’t if we’d get a sequel, but how on earth Nintendo and Illumination would top that level of fan service. After seeing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie this week, I have my answer: they stopped looking at the Mushroom Kingdom and started looking at the stars.
The jump from the first film to this one feels remarkably similar to the leap from Super Mario 64 to the original Galaxy game on the Wii. It’s bigger, weirder, and visually, it is nothing short of a masterpiece.
A Cosmic Visual Feast
First, let’s talk about the look. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic have pushed Illumination’s house style into a territory I didn't think they could reach. The "cosmic" scale isn't just a marketing buzzword; it’s baked into every frame. Whether it’s the way the light hits the crystalline debris of a shattered planetoid or the surreal, gravity-defying physics of the Gateway Galaxy, the animation is jaw-dropping.
The standout sequence for me was a mid-film brawl in a neon-lit space casino. The camera spins and weaves as characters leap from floor to ceiling, making full use of the "spherical gravity" that made the games so iconic. It’s the kind of visual creativity that makes the first movie look grounded by comparison.
New Faces and Old Favorites
The core cast returns, with Chris Pratt and Charlie Day settling into their roles as Mario and Luigi with much more ease this time around. But the real heart of the film is the newcomers. Brie Larson voices Rosalina with a gentle, ethereal gravitas that perfectly captures the "space mom" energy of the games. Her connection to the Lumas, star-like creatures that are practically designed to sell plushies, provides the emotional anchor the first film was arguably missing.
We also finally get the big screen debut of Yoshi, voiced by Donald Glover. Glover brings a playful, slightly chaotic energy to the green dinosaur that balances out the Mario brothers' more straightforward heroics. And in a move that will make every 90s kid lose their mind, we get a cameo from Glen Powell’s Fox McCloud, hinting that the "Nintendo Cinematic Universe" is no longer just a theory.
The Sound of the Stars
Composer Brian Tyler returns, and he’s outdone himself. While the first film leaned heavily on "needle drops" (licensed pop songs), Galaxy is much more restrained, allowing the orchestral score to shine. Hearing the iconic Gusty Garden Galaxy theme swell during a high-stakes flight sequence was, for me, the highlight of the entire experience. It feels cinematic in a way few video game adaptations manage to achieve.
The Verdict
Is it perfect? Not quite. The plot is a bit of a "rescue-op" retread, this time with Rosalina being the one in Bowser’s clutches (or more specifically, Benny Safdie’s delightfully bratty Bowser Jr.). At times, the film moves so fast that it barely gives you a second to breathe before whisking you off to the next planet.
However, as an experience, it is undeniable. It manages to be a love letter to "old-school" gamers while remaining accessible enough for a five-year-old who just wants to see a dinosaur eat a Goomba.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie doesn't just play the hits; it remixes them into something grander. It is a vibrant, heartfelt, and technically stunning adventure that proves Nintendo is just getting started with its big-screen ambitions. If you have even a passing interest in the franchise, find the biggest IMAX screen you can.
