Review by Jon Donnis
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie knows exactly what it is trying to do, and it does not waste time pretending to be anything else. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, and written by Matthew Fogel, this sequel pushes the Mario world into a much bigger, more chaotic space setting, and it never really slows down once it gets going.
The story centres on Princess Rosalina, who is kidnapped by Bowser Jr. as part of a plan to drain her power and fuel a universe destroying weapon in honour of Bowser. From there, Mario and Luigi are pulled into a rescue mission that quickly expands across multiple galaxies. Along the way they meet Yoshi, defend the Mushroom Kingdom, and eventually reunite with Peach and Toad as the scale of the threat grows. The film keeps moving from one set piece to the next, with very little downtime.
That constant movement is a big part of why it works. At around ninety five minutes, the runtime feels just right. It does not drag, it does not overstay its welcome, and it is clearly designed to hold the attention of younger viewers from start to finish. This is a film built on momentum, and it sticks to that approach.
The animation is easily one of the strongest elements. Every environment feels bright, detailed, and full of life, from the Honeyhive Galaxy to the Comet Observatory. The action sequences are packed with energy, and there is a clear effort to make each setting visually distinct. It looks exactly how a Mario film should look, colourful, playful, and constantly moving.
There is also a steady stream of references various video games. These are woven into the film in a way that feels natural rather than forced, giving fans plenty to recognise while still keeping things accessible for younger audiences. It is very much a film that both kids and long time players can enjoy without needing to overthink anything.
That idea of not overthinking things runs through the entire film. There is nothing complicated here, and that is clearly intentional. It is a straightforward, action heavy adventure that focuses on fun above all else. Kids are going to love it, and that is ultimately where its priorities sit.
One of the more interesting aspects is how unapologetically simple it is in terms of messaging. There is no attempt to push any kind of political angle or wider agenda. It sticks to telling a fun, energetic story without trying to layer in anything beyond that. At a time when audiences are increasingly aware of that kind of thing, this approach stands out. It is easy to see why general audiences will respond positively to that, even if some critics take issue with it.
Critics will likely push back on the film because it does not include those elements, and that feels baked into how this will be received. It is the kind of film that some will dismiss for what it does not try to do, while others will enjoy it for exactly the same reason. That divide is part of what will drive its success. The general audience are sick of political agendas, and woke nonsense. Where as critics are paid to push it. Ignore that noise.
The film's only weakness is the lack of character development. With so much happening and so many locations to move through, there is not much time to explore the characters in depth. Moments that could have been expanded are often brief before the film moves on to the next action sequence. That said, with this level of constant adventure, it is not something that significantly hurts the experience.
In the end, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie delivers exactly what it promises. It is fast, colourful, and built around non stop action. It does not try to be deeper than it needs to be, and it does not get bogged down in anything that would slow it down.
This is a film that general audiences, especially younger viewers, are going to enjoy far more than critics. It keeps things simple, avoids unnecessary messaging, and focuses on entertainment. That alone makes it stand out.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie earns a strong 9 out of 10.
Out Now in Cinemas
