Official Trailer
Rating: 6.7/10 | Genre: Family, Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy, Animation | Runtime: 98 min
Starring: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Donald Glover
I took my kids to see Super Mario Galaxy this weekend and honestly, I had more fun than I expected to. It’s not groundbreaking or anything, but it’s a solid family movie that actually respects the source material while being funny enough for adults to not hate sitting through it.
The plot is basically what you’d think. Mario and Luigi already beat Bowser once, and now they have to deal with Bowser Jr. trying to free his dad and take over the galaxy or whatever. It sounds simple because it is, but the movie uses that simplicity to move the story along at a good pace. Nothing drags. The whole thing is 98 minutes and it feels like it.
The Cast Works Better Than You’d Think
Okay, I was skeptical about Chris Pratt as Mario. Like, a lot of people were. But he actually tones down the annoying stuff and just plays Mario as this earnest guy who’s in way over his head. He doesn’t do a funny voice or anything, which I think was the right call. Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach is fine. She gets some good one-liners and doesn’t feel like she’s just standing around waiting to be rescued, which is nice.
Charlie Day is hilarious as Luigi. Seriously. His timing is genuinely good, and some of the bits where Luigi is just panicking about space travel landed every single time. Jack Black does the voice work for Bowser Jr., and he brings this bratty energy that actually makes the character more annoying in a funny way rather than just annoying.
Donald Glover shows up as Luma, this little creature that helps them out, and he’s basically just being charming and earnest. It works. The voice cast knows what kind of movie they’re in and nobody’s trying to win an Oscar. That’s the vibe you want.
The Pacing Is Actually Good
I watched a lot of kids movies that feel like they’re three hours long even when they’re not. This one moves. There’s always something happening. They go to different planets, they meet new characters, there’s action stuff happening, and then it’s over. No weird subplots that go nowhere. No boring scenes where characters just sit around talking.
The action sequences are colorful and easy to follow. My seven-year-old wasn’t confused at any point, which I appreciate. Some of these animated movies now are so visually busy that you can’t tell what’s happening. This one doesn’t do that. You can always see what Mario is doing and why.
The Jokes Land More Often Than Not
There’s stuff in here that made me laugh out loud. The running gag about Mario not knowing anything about space is funny. There’s a bit where they need to fix their spaceship and Luigi just starts hitting stuff that’s actually pretty good. Bowser Jr. being a spoiled brat who gets mad about everything works as comedy too.
Not every joke lands. Some of the puns are groan-worthy in the bad way, not the fun way. And there’s definitely some stuff that felt like it was trying too hard to be funny and just wasn’t. But I’d say the hit rate was pretty solid for a family movie.
The Visuals Are Nice But Not Amazing
The animation is pretty. The planets all look different and colorful, which is cool. The character designs stay true to the games without looking weird on screen. It’s not Pixar level stuff, but it’s well done and the movie looks good. The space environments are probably the best thing about the visual design. They nailed that Nintendo aesthetic without making it feel too cartoony.
My Main Complaint
The story is pretty basic. Bowser Jr. wants to free his dad. They travel across space. He keeps trying to stop them. Eventually there’s a big climax. That’s the whole movie. There’s nothing surprising about it. If you’ve seen any Mario game or the first Mario movie, you know exactly what’s going to happen and in what order.
That’s not necessarily bad for a kids movie, but it does mean there’s no real tension. You never worry that Mario won’t win or that anything bad will happen. It’s just a series of colorful set pieces connected by a plot that exists to get from one to the next.
Final Verdict
Look, if you have kids and you want to take them to see a movie that’s fun and doesn’t insult your intelligence, Super Mario Galaxy is worth your time. It’s not going to blow your mind. It’s not going to be something you think about for weeks. But it’s entertaining, it moves, the voice acting is good, and it’s got enough humor that parents will laugh too. That’s basically all you can ask for from a family movie.
My kids want to go see it again, which is always a good sign. I’ll probably take them. It’s not painful to sit through, and honestly, that puts it above a lot of animated movies I’ve seen lately.
Did you see it yet? What did you think? Are you planning to take your kids?
Where to Watch
Rent on: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Buy on: CosmoGo