The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review – Super disappointing Nintendo sequel | Films | Entertainment

Three years ago, Nintendo teamed up with Universal’s Illumination, the CG-animation studio behind the Despicable Me franchise, to adapt Super Mario for the big screen after 1993’s live-action flop.

Despite mixed reviews from the critics, The Super Mario Bros Movie was a mammoth success, making over $1.3 billion on a $100 million budget and becoming the highest-grossing film based on a video game.

Although Nintendo played it safe with the origin story, it was still a fun family adventure with plenty for fans (including me) of all ages to enjoy.

I just wish I could say the same about the lacklustre sequel that’s hitting cinemas today.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn’t really a movie. It’s more of a collection of loosely connected shorts with whizz-popping multi-coloured bangs and blasts across the Mushroom Kingdom and into space. The alleged plot follows Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Yoshi (Donald Glover) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) launching off into Outer Space to rescue Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) from Bowser Jr (Benny Safdie) and Bowser (Jack Black). Along the way, they encounter Nintendo character cameos like Star Fox (Glen Powell) and plenty of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter eggs. Sadly, these aren’t enough to paper over what is overall a weaker film, lacking the charm and humour of its predecessor.

There’s just about enough shiny. loud nonsense to keep the under 8s happy and the lead up to the final boss and battle is an exciting exception in an otherwise forgettable outing. Plus, aside from one small sequence, there’s not enough to warrant the film title’s attribution to the Mario Galaxy games beyond being in Outer Space. So is it Game Over for Nintendo?

Of course not. The Mario movies don’t have to be that good, given how full of families the cinema I visited on opening day was, ready to lap up whatever the latest iteration of the much-loved video game IP has to offer. Considering opening weekend projections, the blockbuster will no doubt make over $1 billion, perhaps even surpassing the first movie. But here’s hoping the inevitable sequels and spin-offs are more creatively daring like Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse films.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is out now in UK cinemas.