'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' film review: Dynamic, vibrant sequel will delight fans of the iconic plumber
Adventure beckons the Mario brothers far from the Mushroom Kingdom in the vibrant and fun powered-up sequel 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' (in theaters nationwide starting April 1).
In short: Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad adventure into outer space to rescue Princess Rosalina from Bowser Jr., Bowser's son. Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover and Brie Larson star.
After years of wonder if gamers would ever get a "good" movie adaptation of any video game, this Illumination and Nintendo sequel affirm that they've cracked the code on what makes a Mario movie work: chaotic fun.
'Galaxy' pops with dynamic colors and energy as Mario sprints, jumps and flies across space to save the day. Almost every single Super Mario video game has defining traits: they're fun, they're straightforward and they're packed with zany power ups. And the 'Galaxy' filmmakers tap into these very basic elements of what makes Super Mario games so much fun - and they've just adapted that vibe in this sequel.
Admittedly, this sequel shares many similar story beats as the first movie: Mario and friends must save a Princess abducted by a power hungry Bowser. But freed from all the obligatory world building needed for a first adventure, Mario and Luigi get to fully embrace their roles as protectors of the Mushroom Kingdom this time around. The fun of 'Galaxy' is joining these iconic heroes on a whiz-bang journey across the galaxy brought to life with eye-popping colors and enegy.
The Mushroom Kingdom and beyond has never looked better. Illumination has crafted a beautifully animated world for Mario's adventure across the stars. Composer Brian Tyler's score is a celebration of so many iconic melodies from decades of beloved games.
"As long as it's fun, anything goes" is famously Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto's philosophy when designing video games. Fun is the heart of anything Super Mario - and 'Super Mario Galaxy' lives up to this creed. It's fun to watch Mario, Luigi and the Princess frenetically bounce around as they take on Bowser's minions. It's fun to catch all the obscure little references to Mario's many video game adventures. And it's fun to watch Mario and friends jump, stomp and spin their way to saving the day.
Final verdict: 'Super Mario Galaxy' is a love letter to the fans of Nintendo's famous plumber. It's squarely aimed at those who enjoyed the first movie and adore the Mario franchise.
Score: 3/5
'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' opens in theaters everywhere on April 1. This animated adventure has a runtime of 106 minutes and is rated PG for action, mild violence and rude humor.
