Photo: moviepictures.com
Having already grossed nearly 400 million dollars worldwide within its first week of release, the newly released "Super Mario Galaxy Movie" is already on track to become one of the highest grossing films this year, and maybe even this decade. But does it deserve it?
The previous entry, "The Super Mario Bros Movie", ended its theatrical run with a staggering 1.36 billion dollar gross, making more than ten times its budget. A perfectly fun and adequate inaugural franchise starter, a sequel was almost immediately greenlit. Yet, the team at Illumination and Nintendo took all the wrong lessons from the first film’s success, doubling down on its problems but also adding a wealth of new ones.
One could walk away from the film, and, upon being asked what happened, think for a moment before drawing a blank: events and action transpire on the screen, but they go so fast and are barely held together. There's no time to process a plot point before jumping to the next one. This issue stems from the fact that the title character (and his brother) could be taken out of the film without affecting its plot whatsoever – not only do they not have any character arc, but none of their actions change or move forward the plot.
Bowser and Peach are instead the characters with the most thematic development here, and it’s arguably more frustrating to watch such potential go to waste. Bowser grapples with his conscience, torn between his increasing desire to change for his new friends and the growing bond he has with his villain of a son, Bowser Jr. He ultimately (spoilers) ends up regressing to his maniacal ways in a well-put together – yet rushed – scene that shows how love and adoration will corrupt the sinister turtle more than anything else. Peach, meanwhile, is sent on a quest to find her newly discovered sister – expanding on a plot point and character wound from the first film (abandonment issues), yet we barely see her emotional reaction to this. In fact, it’s up in the air if Mario and Luigi even know of this connection. Something as simple as a quiet scene between Mario and Peach where they catch up after being reunited, and Peach opens up about her feelings about going to rescue her sister, with Mario finding out she has one in the first place, would help both arcs profoundly.
Despite all this, the film is gorgeously animated with some exquisite set pieces that’ll make even the most casual Nintendo fans jump up and down with excitement. Characters you’d never expect not only show up but play a prominent and important role in the story, and the casting yet again strikes absolute gold in the celebrity voice talent it’s put together (looking at Donald Glover and Glenn Powell specifically).
Overall, the new "Super Mario Galaxy Movie" knew exactly how much of a success it was going to be, so when it came to the script department put in as little effort as possible. And it looks like that gambit paid off, as it’s already nearing half a billion dollars and doesn’t look to be slowing down soon. A perfectly okay movie that one will watch once and instantly forget, I would give the "Super Mario Movie" a 2 out of 5 stars.