The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Doesn’t Quite Hit The Same

movie
Written By Kristen Maldonado

In The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and their new friends Yoshi (Donald Glover) and Rosalina (Brie Larson) face off in a galactic adventure against Bowser and his son Bowser Jr.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a fun, fast-paced ride that teases intriguing lore and family dynamics, but pulls back before it can dig deeper. As a result, the story feels disjointed and lacks the emotional punch it’s building toward. There are plenty of glorified cameos and new characters that are introduced only to be quickly sidelined.

Just like in the first film, Jack Black is a standout as Bowser and the relationship he has with his son (Benny Safdie) is truly heartwarming. But you can definitely feel the hole where another Bowser song was missing. The film is packed with Easter eggs and the animation delivers some genuinely beautiful moments, but the film ends too abruptly for it to fully land.

All in all, it’s fine, but doesn’t have the same spark as the original film.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hits theaters on April 1.

Kristen Maldonado

Kristen Maldonado is an entertainment journalist, critic, and on-camera host. She is the founder of the outlet Pop Culture Planet and hosts its inclusion-focused video podcast of the same name. You can find her binge-watching your next favorite TV show, interviewing talent, and championing representation in all forms. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, a member of the Critics Choice Association, Latino Entertainment Journalists Association, and the Television Academy, and a 2x Shorty Award winner. She's also been featured on New York Live, NY1, The List TV, Den of Geek, Good Morning America, Insider, MTV, and Glamour.

http://www.youtube.com/kaymaldo
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