The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review: Chris Pratt and Charlie Day return for a sequel that will please fans (but few others)

As is the case with many cinematic adaptations of video games, Super Mario Galaxy movie It doesn’t leave you time to catch your breath. The operative word for this sequel to the 2023 blockbuster the Super Mario Bros movie It’s “more,” as in more action, more characters, more Easter eggs, more of everything. It even focuses much of the story in outer space. If you’re looking for the equivalent of a James Bond film, this will be it Moonraker.

Not that any of this will necessarily be a problem for kids, or for nostalgic adults who grew up playing Nintendo games and seem determined to never stray from their childhood obsessions. Fast-paced and full of hyper-action visuals, this sequel hits the sweet spot in terms of what its target audience wants, even if non-enthusiastic adults will find little of interest beyond its star-studded voice cast.

And what a cast. Those returning from the first film include Chris Pratt and Charlie Day as Mario and Luigi. Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, the administrator of the Mushroom Kingdom; Jack Black as the evil Bowser, now reduced to size and forced to participate in the book club; and Keegan-Michael Key as loyal frog.

Now add to that Donald Glover as the adorable dinosaur Yoshi; Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., determined to avenge his father’s arrest (in between). Happy Gilmore 2, the Crushing machine The director seems intent on exploring his silly side); and Academy Award winner Brie Larson as Princess Rosalina, whose kidnapping by Bowser Jr. sets the plot in motion. It’s an embarrassment of sonic riches.

Oh, and let’s not forget Glen Powell as Fox McCloud, who looks like Han Solo, in the Who crossover Star Fox toys, the appearance of which was kept secret by those skilled folks at Universal until just a week before the movie opened. It all makes you feel bad for those hard-working little-known voice actors in games who don’t even get taken into account when their properties transition to the big screen. Although it must be said that many of the star contributions here, especially those of Black and Glover, are fantastic. It’s also refreshing that most of the time, celebrity voices aren’t immediately recognizable.

If I digress, it’s probably because there’s not much to say about the movie, which basically involves the plumber brothers, accompanied by Princess Peach and Toad, venturing into space to rescue Rosalina. You could point to the endless, frenetic action sequences, presented in eye-catching, color-saturated animation that look like the visual equivalent of sugary confections, interspersed with the occasional jokes and gags that were well received by the audience at the kid-packed press screening.

Matthew Vogel’s screenplay, which mostly offers generous fan service for its inspiration, also weaves in some sentimental elements. There’s a distinct romance between Mario and Princess Peach (which I can’t wait to explore in the next installment), and some real father-son trouble between Bowser and his offspring, who seems intent on outdoing him in villainy. There’s a funny visual trick revolving around Mario’s inability to draw. And there are some amusing lines that seem designed to make us feel like we’re telling a joke, such as one character complaining, “That monkey just used his charm for a crime!” Another complains: “What is wrong with you, princesses, when you were arrested?” actually.

One really funny episode is the scene featuring ROB (Robotic Operating Buddy), who proves to be as useless in running the information desk as the lazy DMV clerk in Zootopia. Needless to say, cuteness abounds, from those adorable Lomas to Luigi and Mario transformed into babies, minus their signature mustaches. But the latter is better said, as the filmmakers might consider it a teaser for a Mario Bros. prequel.