The brothers are back in town — or rather, the kingdom. Mario and Luigi are ready to level up once again to save the cosmos.
Brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), along with Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and the rest of the crew, embark on a galactic adventure to stop the father-son duo of Bowser (Jack Black) and Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) from ruling the universe.
Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic return from their work on “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” to take viewers on a cosmic journey in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” The film packs a nonstop action ride into its 1-hour, 38-minute runtime.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” features gorgeous and vibrant animation. The visual style, combined with Nintendo Easter eggs scattered throughout, promises to entertain viewers of all ages, regardless of their familiarity with the original video game material. While the plot feels rushed in places, those flaws are overshadowed by the production; the transition from video-game-style graphics to the cinematic animation is seamless and well timed.
While the first film remains superior, the sequel is a solid addition to the franchise. The voice acting is top-tier, notably from new cast member Glen Powell, who takes on a Nintendo version of his “Top Gun: Maverick” persona as Fox McCloud. The introduction of McCloud, the protagonist of the “Star Fox” saga, opens a door to launch a Nintendo shared universe in future films.
Brian Tyler’s score adds another layer to the film, staying on-brand with themes from the “Super Mario Galaxy” game series. While the music is vivid, it may not have the viral standout touch like “Peaches,” the ballad sung by Black’s Bowser in the first film.
Along with Fox, the sequel introduces a larger roster of Nintendo characters, including Rosalina (Brie Larson), Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), Yoshi (Donald Glover) and R.O.B.
There are no jokes about this April Fools’ debut; it serves as a perfect Easter weekend selection for families. Audiences will want to stay in their seats when the credits roll to catch both the mid- and post-credit scenes.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is projected to earn $175 million to $180 million in its first five days in theaters, according to Variety.
Its 2023 predecessor also had a head start to the weekend box office, debuting on a Wednesday and opening to $146.3 million, according to Box Office Mojo. That film eventually earned $1.4 billion at the global box office.