In the spring of 2023, “The Super Mario Movie” released and caused audiences to spring out of their homes to go to the nearest movie theater, and the sequel, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” has done the same.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” premiered on April 1 with the same star-studded cast as the previous film. Some stand out performances were by Brie Larson who voices Rosalina, Donald Glover who voices Yoshi and Benny Safdie who voices Bowser Jr.
Larson’s take on Rosalina was expertly done. She plays the character as mystical, nurturing, kind and powerful, which pays homage to the beloved character from the games.
Likewise, Glover is equally impressive as Yoshi, the adored dinosaur and companion to Mario and Luigi.
Glover’s voice for Yoshi sounds nearly identical to how Yoshi sounds in the games and left me and other audience members floored with his accuracy.
Safdie had a neat take on Bowser Jr. during the film. He portrayed the character as an “angsty teen” trying to impress his father rather than the “bratty kid” characterization which was used in the games. This choice is a small change, however, it definitely makes Bowser Jr. more intimidating and threatening in the film.
Another strength of the film was the world building. In the background, fans can notice references to countless Mario games. Even the secondary and cameo characters fit into the world flawlessly while still being unique to how those characters were portrayed in the games.
On the other hand, the film felt like it was trying to cram in too many references at times, leading to some scenes feeling choppy and ending abruptly.
I also had a tough time believing relationships between certain characters since the film did not spend enough time setting them up earlier in the film. This made certain reveals and plot twists feel random. However, the relationships did not drastically hinder the overall theme or plot of the movie.
Nonetheless, the film had excellent comedic timing and humor throughout.
Since the movie is intended for a younger audience, I did not go in expecting all the jokes to land for myself or older viewers. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Certain scenes had the whole audience laughing, proving how enjoyable the film is for all ages, even if they are unfamiliar with the Mario series.
I viewed the movie in 3D and was astounded by how the visuals instantly immersed me into the world. From the very beginning of the film, the audience is drawn in by the mystical animation and the radiant contrast between lightness and darkness. The animation and 3D effects were best on display during scenes that take place in space and whenever Rosalina’s Lumas are on screen. The Lumas have a glowing effect which was beautiful and gave them an otherworldly, magical feel.
The glowing effect was a recurring composition method throughout the film in darker scenes, which was enhanced by the 3D effects. All the scenes that used this lighting technique were stunning.
Another commonly used motif were shifts in gravity, perspective and physics. This was most apparent in the casino scene when Peach and Toad run into Wart and need to fight off his goons and sidekicks. The changes of physics and perspectives made for a unique fighting sequence which had the audience totally immersed.
The film highlights themes of family and unconditional love, which makes for a perfect family film. The movie bridges the gap between older and younger generations flawlessly, which has been and will continue to be the legacy of the Super Mario Brothers.
