When audiences head to theaters Wednesday for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” they’ll find familiar elements from the beloved video game alongside some unexpected twists. The film delivers what fans anticipate: the cosmic Princess Rosalina makes her debut, complete with scenes where she tells bedtime stories to her glowing star companions called Lumas. The plot whisks Princess Peach, Mario, Luigi and Toad beyond the Mushroom Kingdom into outer space, where characters zip between planets using launch stars—a concept that will resonate with anyone who played the 2007 Nintendo game.
The movie’s most surprising revelation centers on Bowser (Jack Black returns as the voice) and his overlooked son Bowser Jr. (voiced by Benny Safdie), who both turn out to be artists. The father figure uses painting as emotional therapy while remaining prisoner-sized in Princess Peach’s castle, still miniaturized from the previous film’s events. Meanwhile, Bowser Jr.—completely absent from the first movie—creates destructive art as part of his galaxy conquest scheme to earn his father’s approval. Despite being largely absent during his son’s upbringing, Bowser made their limited time together memorable with elaborate puppet shows and theatrical bedtime story presentations.
Family themes extend beyond the villain duo, as Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) grapples with questions about her past. Fortunately, Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) avoid heavy emotional storylines and simply enjoy the adventure. Producers Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario’s creator, and Chris Meledandri from Illumination appear dedicated to maintaining the franchise’s lighthearted spirit while crafting a reasonably engaging narrative.
Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, returning from the first film, along with screenwriter Matthew Fogel, recognize that Super Mario movie audiences aren’t seeking complex character development or harsh realism. The video game series offers pure escapism—a vibrant fantasy realm where space feels welcoming rather than threatening, filled with sparkle and amazement. Unlike the notorious 1993 film that featured disturbing violence, this version focuses on the joy of exploring locations like the Gateway Galaxy or navigating spinning fire obstacles.
New voice talent joins the cast, including Brie Larson as Rosalina, though her performance sounds remarkably similar to Taylor-Joy’s Princess Peach. Donald Glover voices Yoshi, bringing chaotic energy that makes him an entertaining and likely popular addition. The film doesn’t strictly adhere to the Galaxy games’ specific worlds, which some devoted fans have criticized as overly rigid thinking for this type of adaptation. One standout sequence cleverly combines Mario’s classic 2D pixelated appearance with the stunning 3D animation of contemporary versions.
The movie does carry an unavoidable commercial undertone, existing partly to generate additional revenue through games, toys, and future theme park attractions. It also capitalizes heavily on its predecessor’s massive success. The Lumas obsess over tales of the heroic plumber brothers, as do the Toads—one even sports Mario-themed sleepwear and carries a Mario figurine, raising obvious questions about the merchandise’s origin within their world. Bowser Jr.’s bedroom overflows with villain-themed toys and matching bedding.
While acknowledging that merchandise appeals to younger moviegoers, when these commercial elements become woven into the actual plot, they become distracting. These moments pull viewers away from the magical escape and back toward thoughts of corporate marketing strategies.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” distributed by Universal Pictures and opening Wednesday, carries a PG rating for mild violence, action sequences, and crude humor. The film runs 98 minutes and earns two and a half stars out of four.
