THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE -- Bigger and Better Than the First

Review by Chadd Clubine

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a genuine surprise, building on the first film while smoothing over many of its shortcomings. Though the sequel isn’t without its flaws, they’re far less noticeable this time around. At a brisk 90 minutes, the film moves at a lively pace, making it easy to stay fully engaged from start to finish. With the world already established, the sequel confidently dives deeper, delivering more of what fans have been hoping to see. While the original succeeded by occasionally embracing that spirit, this installment commits to it completely, resulting in a more consistent and satisfying experience.

The film takes a while to get going, but once it does, it never slows down. When it comes to a sequel, it should be a continuation, but still feel like its own thing. That’s how this film feels. Much like the first film, this one still has its cliches in the way it tries to invest viewers emotionally and in how it tries to remind you of what happened in the prior film. On top of that, there does seem to be some new added lore that makes it a bit confusing to start off with, and understanding where the film will go from there. Fortunately, it not only makes sense later on, but it gives the characters more to do.

The film juggles two parallel storylines: Mario and Luigi team up with the newly introduced Yoshi on one path, while Princess Peach and Toad take on another. This split gives each character more room to shine, naturally setting the stage for their stories to converge later on. Yoshi easily steals the show—while his introduction feels a bit tacked on and raises a few plot holes, his presence brings a lot of energy and fun to the adventure. Meanwhile, Princess Peach is given more depth and agency, with her actions playing a crucial role in the story and offering a stronger point of connection, especially through both her combat abilities and her narrative importance.

The animation is just as strong as in the first film, but this time it stands out even more thanks to the dynamic camerawork. The movie frequently pushes into what feels like extended, one-take sequences, adding a sense of momentum and immersion. Rather than relying on a single standout action set piece, it delivers several, each helping to keep the energy high throughout. Combined with vibrant animation, it reinforces why this franchise works so well in animated form. That said, the format occasionally leans too heavily into childish humor that doesn’t always land. But when the film pulls back and embraces jokes that resonate with both kids and adults, it finds a sweet spot that makes it feel like a genuinely all-ages experience.

While the sequel may not deliver as many iconic moments as the first film, it makes up for it with a more consistent level of entertainment and stronger thematic depth. Bowser, in particular, is given meaningful growth, as the story challenges him both as a leader and as a father. Through his relationship with Bowser Jr., the film explores what it means to be a parent and how his choices shape his son’s perspective. At the same time, the developing romance between Mario and Princess Peach is clear without feeling overbearing, adding a light emotional thread that never comes across as forced.
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Overall, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie feels like a sequel that genuinely took the first film’s criticisms to heart, delivering something more refined and truer to the spirit of the games. It stands well on its own, making it easy for newcomers to jump in without needing to revisit the original. Yoshi emerges as the clear MVP, while Princess Peach is given far more depth and agency, making her an even more engaging and relatable presence. Even when the humor doesn’t always land, the film more than compensates with its stunning animation, dynamic action, and stronger thematic focus, cementing it as one of the year’s most surprising standouts so far.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is in theaters April 1st!

RATING: 3.5/5