How “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” was able to be greenlit for a sequel despite its mediocrity has to be one of God’s greatest mysteries. Albeit being faithful and bearable enough to digest by audiences both old and new to the series, the first film undoubtedly faltered when telling a cohesive and noteworthy story.
With all of the advantages that come with having a sequel, one would’ve expected to see a more fleshed out story befitting of such a vibrant and story-rich universe. But like its predecessor, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is an almost plotless drivel of a film weakly held together by barely recognizable references and pretty visuals.
Going into the film, audiences will notice the passion the film has when it comes to replicating the “Super Mario Galaxy” games. From the visually stunning sceneries such as Space Junk Galaxy and Comet Observatory to the presence of familiar utilities such as launch pads and power ups, the film does an excellent job at bringing the original games to the big screen. Other than that, the film does nothing in terms of plot.
The story is as basic as it gets as Mario and Luigi go off to save another princess. Many of the characters, such as Yoshi and Wart, are there not to provide any meaningful purpose other than either support or hinder their rescue. Yoshi in particular, despite being hyped up in the first film, is nothing more than a measly comedic relief.
Although deriving most of its story direction from “Super Mario Galaxy” and “Super Mario Galaxy 2,” the film synthesizes other games throughout the franchise such as “Super Mario Odyssey” and even “Super Mario Maker.” This ultimately poses an interesting question: why are these games incorporated into the film when they could be used instead for later sequels?
“Super Mario Odyssey” in particular, with its fleshed out world and story, could’ve definitely been given the full feature film treatment. The film succumbs to pitfalls akin to movies like “Deadpool & Wolverine” in which the plot hinges on cameos and references that everyone is expected to understand.
The film seems as if it’s trying to cater to as many fans as possible, Mario and Nintendo connoisseurs alike. Older fans of the Mario franchise are greeted with the presence of characters from past video games such as Wart from “Super Mario Bros. 2” as well as references to the levels from the first “Super Mario” game. Nintendo fans are also treated to fan service, particularly with not-so-subtle inclusions of characters such as Pikmin, Mr. Game and Watch and Fox McCloud from the “Starfox” series.
The film’s noticeable failure to balance out references gets even worse when considering the fact that McCloud has a more well-developed backstory and more screentime than some of the more prominent characters. Despite its noble attempt to ensure that all viewers remain engaged and feel seen, the mishmash of references creates an issue in which both generations of Mario fans are left bewildered when it comes to understanding these various allusions, making it a lose-lose situation for everyone.
Despite all of its criticisms, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” manages to excel in a few areas. The performances of some of the characters, mostly those new, are worth making note of. Donald Glover, the same genius behind such introspective works such as “Awaken, My Love!” and “Atlanta” somehow manages to capture the vocal stims of Yoshi down to a tee.
Glen Powell gives a passionate Harrison Ford-esque performance as Fox McCloud that’s worthy of having a full film. Composer Brian Tyler also deserves an ovation in his reinterpretation of one of the most recognizable video game scores out there. That being said, one can only hope that a “Super Smash Bros.” film is in the cards, hopefully with an actually decent story this time around.
Verdict: Despite somewhat enjoyable references and some visually appealing sequences, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” flops when it comes to narrative. Viewers are better off just playing the games instead.
