Apr 03, 2026
3 min read
The new adaptation of the world's most famous plumber deals with action sequences and loses much of the spark of the previous film.
'Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie', a failed sequel
The new adaptation of the world's most famous plumber relies entirely on action sequences and loses many of the highlights of the previous film.
Super Mario Bros.: The Movie was a huge success when it was released in 2023. Nintendo has spent three decades shaking off that stigma and bringing its most popular characters back to the big screen.Nothing less.The debacle of Super Mario Bros. (1993) made the Japanese company rethink its role in movies.This weird, futuristic story is true to life, with Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo playing two plumbers who hunt down Dennis Hopper's Bowser.
During these three decades, interest grew in the character created by Shigeru Miyamoto in 1981 - a hero who tried to destroy gorillas in "Donkey Kong" but did not get his name until "Mario Bros."In 1983, and he did not star in his first big adventure until "Super Mario Bros. Ness" in 1985 - he not only did not slow down, but grew stronger with every episode in which he starred.
So the audience response was overwhelming when the film hit the theaters.The animated film, more than a solvent and glossy adaptation, grossed $1.36 billion worldwide.It's only logical that the company is going ahead with a sequel called 'Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie' which will hit theaters on April 1st.
Those dedicated to the art of storytelling often say that if something is good enough, don't touch it, and that was the case with 'Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie'.Nintendo is once again relying on Illumination Studios, responsible for the Gru series and the adorable minions.Of course, always under the supervision of Christopher Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto, who signed on as producers.Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are behind the computers once again with a script written by Matthew Fogel.They manage.
More actions than scripts
The new story begins when Princess Estella, the guardian of the universe, and one of her stars, are kidnapped by Bowser's son Bowser.His goal is to free the father and then destroy the universe.We remember that the previous movie ended with Bowser trapped and locked in a toy castle in the Mushroom Kingdom, under the watchful eye of Mario and Luigi.Fortunately, the star manages to escape.
Meanwhile, our favorite plumbers continue to unclog the pipes and are working inside an inverted pyramid where they will meet Yoshi, who, despite Toad's jealousy, will from then on become a tireless companion in the adventures of the two.After the job is done, the trio return to the Mushroom Kingdom, where they go to celebrate Princess Peach's birthday.This will be the time when Star locates Princess Peach and tells her that Estella is being held prisoner.So Peach makes a trip to rescue her.and discovers his roots as the Mushroom Kingdom remains in the hands of Mario and his people.
'Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie' is an even more unsuccessful film than the original, as it relies entirely on spectacular and complex action sequences to undermine a script that is less suggestive, fun and surprising.Ordinary visuals - the scene of the castle dragged by inertia after a huge fall or the giant casino that acts like Escher stairs are two brilliant examples - the story once again divides the road into two: On the one hand, the adventure of Toad and Princess Peach;in others Mario, Luigi and Yoshi, and some unsettling company.Both stories eventually intersect, but this time the spark fails and there is a certain sense of a jumble of ideas that are not well grounded.
What Fogel still does well is fill the film with nods to the Nintendo universe and balance out the ever-necessary “fan service.”There is the presence of Fox McCloud, the protagonist of 'Star Fox', the company's spaceship game, which is of vital importance here, and small homages to the cards of each Mario adventure, to the levels of 2D video games, to sagas like 'Pikmin', the baby Luigi and Mario, present in 'Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island', one of the first characters of the Game & Watch machines or the ROB robot with which Nintendo attemptedto mislead users after the fall.of the video game sector in the United States in 1983, making them understand that their machine was much more than a console.
With a less well-rounded script - the relationship between Bowser and his son is the best - adults who go to the movies with small children may be a little more bored this time around, despite some well-planned action.Despite its shortcomings, it will be difficult for the film not to be one of the most watched films of the season again.
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