"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" Review: Fun, Flashy, but Overly Safe.

Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic reunite with screenwriter Matthew Fogel for a sequel to their 2023 hit “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” from Universal Pictures.

Chris Pratt (Mario), Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach), Charlie Day (Luigi), Jack Black, and Keegan-Michael Key (Toad) all reprise their roles from the first film. New cast additions include Benny Safdie (Bowser Jr.), Donald Glover (Yoshi), Brie Larson (Princess Rosalina), and Glen Powell (Fox McCloud). After defeating Bowser in the first film, Mario and Luigi have built a successful reputation with the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom and are still enjoying being plumbers.

The Brothers soon find themselves facing off against Bowser Jr., who has broken his father out of jail. The breakout sets up a domino effect of narratives, and Mario & Luigi are thrust into an outer-space adventure with Princess Peach and Toad. Their latest exploits lead them to meet the green dinosaur YOSHI and another princess, Roslina from Outer Space, who is the adoptive mother of the Lumas.

Out of respect for the fans, I want to keep my review spoiler-free. Growing up, I was more into Sega than Nintendo, aside from the Game Boy and Wii, so I only know the basics of the Mario universe. From the beginning, it’s clear that the creative team is targeting a younger audience while still appealing to fans. During my press screening, there were many applause-worthy moments, and in light of the state of the world, that’s what really matters.

Similar to the first film, the voice work remains strong, with the returning cast not deviating much from their original performances. However, the biggest surprises were Glen Powell and Donald Glover. Hollywood keeps trying to establish Powell as a star, and he has some scene-stealing moments. Similarly, Donald Glover really embraces his inner child while voicing Yoshi.

Like the first film, the sequel has a built-in audience. However, the cinephile in me will admit that every so often, the film flirts with something richer: a warmer, more grounded bond between Princess Peach and Rosalina, and a Bowser caught between old habits and half-learned lessons about loyalty. Those sparks matter and could’ve put the film in the great zone.

However, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” keeps retreating into noise, padding its runtime with forced gags and long stretches that may feel oddly lifeless to some parents who were dragged to this film. Nevertheless, though charm won over a non-fan like me, and based on one of the post-credit scenes, I am looking forward to the third film.

Final Grade: B

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” opens in theaters tomorrow.