‘Are We Having Fun Yet?’

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Watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a strangely overwhelming experience – it’s visually dazzling but also exhausting. It looks like it should be fun, with its fast pace, bright colors, and constant action, but it ends up feeling stressful, like you’re constantly trying to keep up. There’s so much happening that it’s hard to enjoy it. A bizarre scene involving a roller coaster and skeletons perfectly captures the feeling – maybe the movie wants us to be numb and simply accept the chaos. Ultimately, it’s a kids’ movie, so critical opinions don’t really matter. The previous Super Mario Bros. Movie was a huge financial success, and this one is likely to be as well.

The first Super Mario movie wasn’t great, but it had a simple charm and some fun moments with Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), and a memorable performance by Jack Black as Bowser. The sequel, however, throws so much at the audience – characters, plot points, and themes – that it doesn’t allow anything to breathe. Despite this, the directors, Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, seem to be aiming for emotional resonance, with the story focusing on broken and rebuilt families – something I didn’t expect. The villain, Bowser Jr. (voiced by Benny Safdie), tries to rescue his father, Bowser, who’s been weakened and imprisoned. His plan involves kidnapping Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) from her observatory, where she raises star-like children called Lumas. Rosalina often tells her children stories about Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), her sister and the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, who Mario is trying to win over. While these attempts to add depth to the film’s chaotic energy could have been interesting, they ultimately fall flat, and the themes of family are simply stated rather than explored.

As a movie aimed at kids, it’s likely younger viewers will be captivated by the adorable characters and fast-paced action. The film presents a universe that feels like a series of theme parks, with each planet offering its own unique attractions. However, all this energy feels a bit forced and overly produced – ironically, it lacks genuine spontaneity. The movie is packed with references to decades of Mario video games, which will please longtime fans. (I haven’t played any of them myself, as I had to stop playing video games completely when I was young – Donkey Kong was probably the furthest I got!) One of the best nods to the game’s history is the appearance of Star Fox, a character from another Nintendo series, voiced by Glen Powell. He arrives with a fantastic, hand-animated opening sequence, and we could definitely use more moments like that.

Beyond the main voice actors, only Safdie and Black truly stand out. Bowser is clearly inspired by Black’s over-the-top, theatrical style, and Safdie’s character seems to mimic it. Black also starred in last year’s fun A Minecraft Movie, which cleverly used his blend of sarcasm and genuine emotion to create a uniquely quirky and energetic feel. That film handled similar material with a lot more charm. The LEGO Movie is another example of a brand successfully balancing playful irreverence with genuine thoughtfulness – it was truly brilliant. Unfortunately, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie just throws everything at the audience with relentless energy. It’s likely to be a huge financial success, but I’m happy to move on.

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2026-04-01 21:54