An Honest Kid’s Review of ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie‘

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Seeing The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a special experience for my daughter and me. It’s the first time we’ve gone back to a theater to see a sequel to a movie we originally saw together in theaters.

My daughter discovered many popular franchises a bit later than when they first came out. She missed seeing the first Frozen and Moana in theaters, but The Super Mario Bros. Movie came out at just the right time. It coincided with her cousin introducing her to the Nintendo Switch and games like Super Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros.

I didn’t really enjoy the first animated Mario movie; I felt it wasn’t a great take on the source material. My daughter, however, loved it. So, when she found out Yoshi, her favorite character from Mario, would be in the second movie, she was thrilled and couldn’t wait to see it.

What I enjoy most about these movies isn’t the films themselves, but sharing the experience with my daughter. I love seeing movies with my kids and then talking about them on the way home. I sometimes wonder if I rely on these shared experiences because it’s hard for me to connect with them otherwise, but who knows the answer to that!

Recently, I started recording the conversations my daughter and I have after watching movies. At first, I did it secretly, but now she knows and happily joins in. I then turn these chats into question-and-answer pieces about the films, and wherever our discussions wander. What you’ll find below is a slightly edited version of one of those conversations, where we debate things like the worst voice acting in a movie, if watching video games is different from watching baseball, who’s the better brother – Mario or Luigi – and whether Birdos and Yoshis are the same. I’ve removed a few minor spoilers where necessary.

What did you think about the movie?

It was pretty good.

Yeah? What did you like about it?

Yoshi, the all-star best character, was finally in it.

That’s it? It had Yoshi, and that was good enough.

Yoshi was definitely a highlight, but there were other things I enjoyed too. Hmm… I also really liked having Rosalina as a character.

Do you remember the first Mario movie?

Yeah.

Which did you like better?

The second movie featured Yoshi and a large cast of characters. It was a really fun film with plenty of humorous moments – even more so than the first one! There were also some heartwarming scenes, especially involving Bowser and Bowser Jr.

Why do you like Yoshi so much?

Because all he says is [Yoshi voice] “Yoshi!” He’s hilarious.

But that’s all he says! What’s so funny about that?

Imagine if I only said my name every time you asked me something!

That sounds pretty annoying, to be honest with you. I think I would go crazy.

He’s also a dinosaur. I’ve always liked dinosaurs.

Do you like when they make sequels to movies?

Yes.

You wouldn’t rather go see movies that are totally new that aren’t based on anything?

I love going into a movie not knowing what to expect. It’s exciting! But honestly, what really appeals to me is the thought that a great film always leaves you wanting more – like the adventure never truly ends.

I see.

The biggest challenge with a project like this is getting Nintendo’s approval, which thankfully isn’t too difficult. However, that approval also comes with limitations – we can only use certain characters and have to stay true to the core elements of the source material. We can’t deviate too far from the fundamentals.

It felt to me like they threw in a lot of characters this time.

Yeah.

Was it too many characters?

Not too many that it felt overwhelming, but I think it was just a lot.

It was a lot.

The game features a huge cast of characters! There’s Yoshi, Rosalina, and even some surprising additions – plus a ton of other faces I didn’t recognize, but I’m sure are from other games. Oh, and Birdo makes an appearance too! It really feels like everyone is included.

When it comes to movies made from video games, do you prefer playing the game itself, or do you enjoy watching the film adaptation? It’s a common question – which is better?

The challenge with adapting a game into a movie is making it appealing even if people have already experienced the game. It’s similar to the game itself, but it focuses on telling a story. A cool detail is how they include nostalgic elements from the original Mario games, like the retro pixel art when characters jump.

Where’d you learn about pixel art?

Art class. We did it last year.

Really?

Yeah.

That’s interesting! I usually prefer to play video games myself, but you enjoy watching your cousin play. Doesn’t it ever get repetitive?

Look, I get it – some folks think watching someone else play a video game sounds kinda dull. But honestly, it made me think… why do we even watch sports like baseball? It’s the strategy, the skill, the drama, right? And honestly, gaming has all that too!

You mean instead of playing baseball?

Yeah. You could go play baseball. But you really love to watch it.

It was fascinating watching them try to respond to the child’s question! They clearly didn’t want to admit the child was right, and after a long pause, they finally settled on saying they just didn’t know what the future held. It was a really clever way to avoid conceding the point, honestly.

Same for a video game!

Well…

You follow a storyline, but anything could happen.

You thought this movie could end with Mario’s horrible death?

[Thinks hard about this]

I felt like I had a pretty good idea how that movie was going to end.

That’s because it’s based on a video game that you know.

That’s exactly what I mean. It feels familiar, almost as if you’ve seen or experienced it before. It’s not really a surprise at all.

You knew [SPOILER REDACTED] was going to [SPOILER REDACTED]?

I haven’t played many of the newer Mario games either. I guess if I were a really dedicated fan, I’d probably know all the spoilers and what to expect.

Who do you like better: Rosalina or Peach?

Rosalina.

Why do you like her better?

One: She has a wand.

Princess Peach has an umbrella.

Yeah but it’s not a magic umbrella, Dad. It’s just an umbrella.

All right, I guess that’s an important distinction. Okay, Rosalina has a wand. Anything else?

She wears a blue dress.

Okay. You do like blue. Blue beats pink.

Beyond that, even though the character wasn’t featured heavily, it was really endearing to see how she cared for and nurtured the younger performers.

She looks after these small, star-like beings, which is lovely. Despite being kidnapped, she’s actually very resilient and doesn’t simply wait to be rescued.

Like Peach.

True.

Movies often have scenes where a princess is underestimated, and then she proves everyone wrong by taking charge and succeeding. I think that’s a positive message.

What about the Mario brothers? Which one is better?

I think Mario.

I think Luigi is a much more interesting character than Mario. Mario is pretty straightforward, but Luigi is allowed to be funny and show his fear, which makes him more relatable.

Yeah. I think I’d want to play as Luigi — or Yoshi, he has a lot of personality.

Okay, so everyone agrees Yoshi is the greatest! But it’s a little strange that this movie features a dinosaur that clearly resembles Yoshi, alongside a dinosaur that just… looks like a regular dinosaur. It’s an odd contrast, isn’t it?

In the Mario universe a dinosaur wouldn’t look the same.

Right. But then how come there is a dinosaur that looks like a dinosaur?

Because they’re in a different universe?

What universe were they in?

I have no idea who they are! They don’t tell us their names. Maybe they’re from the Milky Way? But they’re on another planet, so things probably work very differently there.

Yoshi isn’t from around here – he’s from a planet where dinosaurs look like him. Meanwhile, on Earth, dinosaurs look like… well, dinosaurs!

On his planet, Yoshi looks like a Yoshi.

I’m not sure I understand the distinction here.

If that creature were a Toad, it would simply be a Toad! But it’s a Yoshi, and that’s what makes it special. It’s a particularly adorable dinosaur.

Fair enough.

Okay, I honestly don’t know what I just said. I don’t understand it. But a Yoshi is a Yoshi.

“A Yoshi is a Yoshi,” so true. So true.

What are your thoughts on Mario expressing his romantic interest in Princess Peach?

That felt a bit sudden, honestly. I mean, it can happen in movies, but there wasn’t much connection between those two characters. Not a friendship, or anything like that…

You’re right, I agree. I thought it was pretty weak – it felt like they didn’t know what to do with Mario’s character or give him a good story, so they just gave him something to do. Seriously, Mario needs a better storyline!

Yeah, he really just is “This Guy.” I did think Bowser would react more to that.

Oh yeah! He was in love with Peach in the first movie. What happened to that?

At the start of the movie, Mario creates a painting for a girl, but then he completely forgets about her.

You’re right. What’s up with that?

He doesn’t yell at Mario for liking Peach. I was waiting for that to happen.

But that didn’t affect your enjoyment of the movie?

It wasn’t quite what I expected, but it had some genuinely funny moments. I especially enjoyed the space-themed elements. The story followed a classic pattern: a quest, some challenges, and ultimately, a resolution.

Do you have any questions for me?

What did you like about the movie?

I enjoyed the development of the characters and thought the visuals were quite appealing, with some truly beautiful animation.

The hair is amazing!

Like Bowser’s hair?

I guess. But more Rosalina’s and Peach’s hair.

Honestly, while it looks good, I’m not a big fan of either of the Mario movies. I wish they had stronger storylines. It feels like they just took a lot of elements directly from the games and put them on the screen without much narrative connection.

You want something new.

Yeah. There’s nothing terrible about them. They’re not awful.

You like playing Mario games.

I really enjoy spending time with you, and honestly, I think I’d have more fun playing a game like Mario Party, Mario Kart, or Smash Bros. with the family than watching this movie. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t feel particularly special or memorable. It wasn’t a terrible night, but it wasn’t great either.

I understand that. What was your favorite part?

You know, trying to pick a favorite moment is tough, but I really enjoyed the beginning with Bowser. Seeing him pretend to be reformed and actually trying to be friendly with Mario and Luigi was a fun and unexpected twist. It just set a really lighthearted tone, and I was hooked right away.

Oh yeah… kids change you.

[laughs] Is that what Bowser said?

No, but his kid changes him!

That’s right. Having kids definitely changes your life. It adds a lot of challenges, and you end up feeling tired all the time. Sleep becomes a rare luxury.

You sleep Dad, stop. You sleep all the time. But kids do affect your decisions.

No, you’re right.

Did you happen to notice the person behind us who kept clapping and cheering – yelling things like “Woo!” and “Yeah!” – whenever something from a Nintendo game appeared on screen? I was wondering if you saw that.

Yeah.

What did you think of that?

It was every time.

He was clapping a lot – did you notice? You’re a Nintendo player, so you’d recognize those things. I’m surprised you didn’t join in and clap too!

You didn’t either. You should be asking yourself that.

True. How would you have reacted if I had cheered and clapped through the whole movie?

I would have said nothing.

Would you have been embarrassed?

Not really.

Would you have wondered why I was such a weirdo?

I get why they did what they did, but I honestly thought it was just a bit excessive.

Okay, that’s a good point. What did you think of the voice acting itself – not the characters, but just how the voices sounded? Were there any voices that you found especially humorous?

I enjoy playing as Bowser and Luigi. Yoshi was a fun character to use, and it fit well. However, Rosalina and Peach’s voices sounded surprisingly alike – almost as if the same voice actor played both of them.

Or an actor who didn’t particularly care all that much about what they were saying?

Dad, please. They just sounded alike, and it messed with my head a little. Bowser Jr.’s voice was definitely the most annoying, though.

The worst voice? Really? Why?

He sounded too grown up. He didn‘t sound like a kid. And it’s hard to hire a kid actor.

Why couldn’t they hire a kid actor? You could have done it.

Okay, I could have.

What would you want to see in the next Mario movie?

I’d really like to see more of Birdo! She’s a pretty funny character, and there’s a lot of potential for a whole adventure based around her, especially since she shares some similarities with Yoshi.

You think Birdo and Yoshi are related?

The character Birdo and the character Yoshi … I think they’re both Yoshis?

But if Birdo is a Yoshi, why isn’t it called Yoshi? It’s called a Birdo.

Because that’s its name, Dad. You could name a dog Dog! Birdo’s probably not a Yoshi Yoshi.

You’re saying Birdo is the name of that specific creature, not the name of their entire species.

Perhaps the term actually refers to a group of related species. Just like snakes and turtles are distinct, but both belong to the reptile family.

I see. So Birdos and Yoshis are of the same genus?

I guess. If you look at pictures of them side by side you can see it.

I’m discovering a lot about the Mario universe tonight! It’s interesting – Birdos shoot eggs, and Yoshis eat things and then lay eggs.

Well, that makes them even more similar!

No, they poop them out!

Okay, look, as a movie fan, I’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff, but this is… something. Basically, they’re doing the same thing, just in completely opposite ways! It’s like, one’s coming out of your mouth – total vomit – and the other is… well, you get the picture. One’s throwing up, the other’s… evacuating. Same result, different delivery system, if you will!

[points] You just freaked out that woman. Do you see how fast she’s walking to get away from us?

[hysterical laugh]

The Best Movies to Show to Kids to Get Them Hooked on Movies

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Marketers often call older movies “timeless,” but The Wizard of Oz truly deserves that label. This classic film still charms children today. While the special effects aren’t modern, they have a wonderfully fantastical quality that actually enhances the movie. Combined with its fantastic music and memorable acting, it’s a great film for the whole family – even very young children. My daughter, for example, has been enjoying it since she was four years old.

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Looking for a musical to share with a child? Singin’ in the Rain is a perfect choice! You might need to explain what “silent movies” are before you watch it, and some of the story’s details might go over their head – it’s about actors transitioning to talkies in old Hollywood. But they won’t mind, because the songs and especially the dancing are amazing. If your child doesn’t laugh during “Make ’Em Laugh,” it might be time for a check-up!

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Few movies capture the pure imagination of childhood – endless sweets, chocolate waterfalls, and flying lifts – quite like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Though it’s not a short film at 100 minutes, it feels fast-paced. Once the children enter Willy Wonka’s incredible factory, the excitement never stops until the famous finale. Some parents might worry about the scenes where naughty children meet unfortunate fates, but you can assure your little ones that everything turns out alright in the end. (It does! Willy Wonka didn’t actually hurt anyone! Probably.)

Star Wars (1977)

Looking back at the Star Wars saga, it’s amazing how much darker things got later on – even the prequels had some surprisingly intense moments. But the original? It’s just a perfect, self-contained sci-fi adventure. I can totally see why it captured the imaginations of a whole generation of kids growing up in the 70s and 80s. It struck that sweet spot of thrilling excitement without being too overwhelming.

The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

Everyone online raves about The Muppet Movie, and honestly, I’m right there with them – it’s a classic! But speaking as a parent, my own kids weren’t exactly captivated. They actually prefer The Great Muppet Caper! It’s just got more slapstick comedy, and this amazing running joke with Charles Grodin and Miss Piggy that they absolutely adore. Seriously, kids love Charles Grodin – they can’t get enough of him. It seems like that extra bit of silly fun really clicks with them more than the original’s charm.

Ghostbusters (1984)

It’s common for parents to want their children to enjoy the movies they loved growing up, but kids often have different tastes. I was particularly hurt when my daughters weren’t impressed with my favorite, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man! Luckily, they both love Ghostbusters—and my oldest daughter is a huge fan, complete with her own toy ghostbusting gear. She was thrilled to join me at a special screening of a rare cut of the original Ghostbusters film. While she enjoys all the Ghostbusters movies, she correctly identifies the first one as the best. It’s still a fun, though sometimes slightly spooky, movie for kids today.

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

Paul Reubens originally created the Pee-wee Herman character as a playful critique of typical kids’ shows. But Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, despite its quirky and unusual moments, has always been a hit with children – and they often envy Pee-wee’s incredible, elaborate house and awesome bike! Honestly, I still find the “Tequila” scene just as funny as my kids do.

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

When introducing your kids to Hayao Miyazaki films, many people suggest My Neighbor Totoro. However, based on my own experience raising children, they were much more drawn to Kiki’s Delivery Service, which tells the story of a young witch learning her craft. If your children are easily frightened by villains – my eldest daughter was for a long time – Kiki’s Delivery Service is an excellent choice, as it doesn’t feature any bad guys at all.

Home Alone (1990)

Be aware that Home Alone features slapstick violence comparable to, or even greater than, classic Looney Tunes cartoons, but it involves real people. The movie centers on young Kevin McCallister protecting his house from burglars, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, using a series of elaborate and potentially harmful pranks and traps. If you’re concerned about exposing your children to this level of physical comedy, it’s best to avoid the film. However, if you do let them watch it, chances are they’ll find it incredibly funny, laugh a lot, and want to watch it repeatedly. And be warned: if you mention there are sequels, they’ll likely want to see those too, so you might want to keep that a secret for a while.

The Lion King (1994)

With stunning visuals, memorable songs, and even a few silly moments, The Lion King is a classic that kids adore. It packs a lot of story into under 90 minutes! Just a heads-up: Mufasa’s death is a very powerful and potentially upsetting scene, so be prepared if you’re watching with little ones.

Toy Story (1995)

As a child, I used to imagine my toys came to life when I was asleep, and I know many kids feel the same way. That’s probably why Toy Story remains so popular with each new generation – it beautifully captures that childhood idea and makes it feel real and fun!

Elf (2003)

This movie, like others that truly capture a child’s point of view, feels full of life and joy. Elf understands what kids enjoy, and it tells a heartwarming story about a man – brilliantly played by Will Ferrell – who was raised as an elf at the North Pole and then goes on a journey to find his biological family.

Moana (2016)

I have two daughters with very different tastes. One loves princesses, while the other prefers superheroes and adventure. This can make choosing a movie for family night tricky! Luckily, Moana is one they both enjoy. It has a strong, adventurous princess – voiced wonderfully by Auli‘i Cravalho – who goes on a journey to help her people. My kids love rewatching their favorite movies, and honestly, sometimes it can be exhausting for me (I’m looking at you, The Paw Patrol Movie!). But Moana is different – I never tire of watching it, just like my daughters.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

I’m a big fan of comics, so I’ve shared a lot of superhero movies with my kids. The one they loved the most was definitely Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. (My daughter was also really into The LEGO Batman Movie when she was little, and it’s a hilarious and kid-friendly superhero film.) Kids are drawn to Spider-Verse‘s incredible and unique animation, which really enhances Miles Morales’ story about becoming Spider-Man. Plus, having fun characters like Spider-Gwen and Spider-Ham makes it even better!

Dino Dana: The Movie (2020)

If your child is fascinated by dinosaurs, be sure to check out Dino Dan, Dino Trek, and Dino Dana. These Canadian TV series follow young adventurers who can see dinosaurs living in the present day. A Dino Dana movie was also released a few years ago. While it doesn’t expand on the series as much as some might hope, it’s sure to delight fans of both the shows and dinosaurs alike.

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2026-04-01 21:10