When a lot of people are heading into the Easter holiday weekend, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens in theaters, and it just happens, to have its share of Easter eggs. Now, I don’t mean the traditional variety, but those of the metaphorical kind. Much like the first installment, this sequel has loads of visual gags, characters, and sequences that reference Nintendo’s beloved video games. And to be honest, there is a wealth of material available on which to base a movie franchise. The problem arises when filmmakers focus all their efforts on appeasing fans and forget to fully flesh out their story and characters.
Chris Pratt and Charlie Day return to voice Mario and Luigi. Since the events of the first film, the “Mario Bros.” have continued to live in the Mushroom Kingdom, where they help Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and the Toadstool people. Though Bowser (Jack Black) remains miniaturized and imprisoned, Bowser Jr (Benny Safdie) shares his father’s cravings for power and dominance and is willing to use all of his power and resources to get it. Junior begins with the abduction of Peach’s older sister, Rosalina (Brie Larson), rescuing his father, and using Rosalina’s power to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom.
Written by Matthew Fogel and directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a great time for fans of the Nintendo games, their characters, and worlds. I know enough about the games to understand a lot of the winks, nods, and new characters, but I still have much to learn. Nevertheless, I marveled at the lovely, colorful animation and enjoyed the ebullient comedy, which should appeal to children, Nintendo enthusiasts, and even the uninitiated. The filmmakers do a fantastic job creating this vibrant and imaginative world.
The trouble is that the filmmakers don’t show the same care with storytelling or character development. The story lacks substance, and except for the action sequences’ physical challenges, the characters never face psychological trials.
Like the previous movie, the sequel has an outstanding voice cast. As I stated above, Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black reprise their respective roles. Keegan-Michael Key also returns as Toad, and is joined by new cast members Benny Safdie (Bowser Jr),Donald Glover (Yoshi), Issa Rae (Honey Queen), Luis Guzman (Wart), Brie Larson (Princess Rosalina), and Glenn Powell, who is perfectly cast as ace pilot Fox McCloud.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now playing in theaters and is guaranteed to entertain its audiences. Just don’t expect much depth in the story and its characters. Still, as bold, colorful, and vibrant as the world-building is, it should be enjoyed on the big screen.