Super Mario Galaxy Movie Swaps Heart for References

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Super Mario Galaxy Movie Swaps Heart for References

The first entry in the Super Mario Bros. movie series. it was a surprise hit, a genuinely funny and touching play full of retro references to old Nintendo franchises for retro fans to enjoy. Of course, it may not have one established the Smash Bros. cinematic universe, but it has great potential to present it people outside of Nintendo’s established fan base for the characters.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie takes the franchise to the stars, bringing not only Rosalina into the mix, but Bowser Jr., Yoshi (as teased in the movie’s opening credits scene), and even Fox McCloud into the series. It’s a big climb, befitting a movie based on Super Mario Galaxy.

The release date for Super Mario Galaxy Duo has been announced

The hit Wii titles Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are coming soon to both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 platforms.

However, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has a lot to live up to. The first film set a high bar, and the sequel doesn’t reach the same heights as its predecessor, despite its intergalactic setting.

The upcoming update is spoiler-free and does not spoil any surprises in terms of references and cameos that may be shown in trailers, or post-credits scenes.

How does the Super Mario Galaxy movie compare to the original?

A big part of why the original Super Mario Bros. movie worked was that it was an origin story, giving Mario a chance to find his worth in the Mushroom Kingdom. This makes it more exciting as he defeats each enemy, culminating in Bowser’s defeat.

The problem with Super Mario Galaxy Movie is that it doesn’t have the same emotional line. Especially the straight story “Rescue the Princess”, where Bowser Jr. kidnapping Rosalina and trying to free her father from imprisonment.

A big part of why the original Super Mario Bros. movie worked was that it was an origin story, giving Mario a chance to find his worth in the Mushroom Kingdom.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is more about spectacle and fast-paced action scenes than it is about wrapping it up in a great story. Sure, there are some heartwarming character interaction attempts (which can’t be detailed because of spoilers), but they’re half-baked and don’t get the time in the spotlight they deserve.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Relies Heavily on References

The first Super Mario Bros. movie. it was full of references to Nintendo games, but most of them were nods to eagle-eyed fans. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie puts the clues front and center, to the point that anyone unfamiliar with Mario lore will wonder what’s going on.

Characters use unexplained power-ups and weapons most of the time. Sure, Mario fans will see them, but it will make the movie difficult to follow for those who haven’t played all the entries since the ’80s.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie puts the clues front and center, to the point that anyone unfamiliar with Mario lore will wonder what’s going on.

The pace doesn’t help matters, as Super Mario Galaxy Movie feels like it’s worried that people will get bored if exciting things aren’t happening on screen all the time. Perhaps a well-founded concern, aimed at a generation of internet-spoiled kids, but they can make the film overpowering at times.

Rosalina & Fox Get Dirty in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie

One of the biggest problems is how Super Mario Galaxy Movie handles its new characters. Rosalina has a great action scene early in the film, but spends most of the rest of the time locked up, waiting to be rescued. Sure, this is the fate of many Mario princesses, but the first movie did a great job of turning Princess Peach into a badass, and the same can’t be said for Rosalina.

Another problem is Fox McCloud, who can safely be described as the Poochie of the franchise. The other characters listen to him a lot, and he feels out of place in the story, pretending to be a space villain with a Dreamworks smile. It’s pretty obvious that Nintendo is preparing a Star Fox movie, but it’s disappointing to see other characters feature him so much, while he doesn’t do anything impressive.

Another problem is Fox McCloud, who can safely be described as the Poochie of the franchise.

It’s disappointing that Nintendo wasted the reveal of Star Fox so close to launch, as it would have been a huge moment of comment for fans and might have made bootlicking a little more tolerable. The promotional materials also featured Pikmin, which should have been left as a surprise, as they only have blink-and-you’ll-miss-it.

Fortunately, some of the crossover cameos aren’t detracted from the official stuff, and they’re even more likable than Fox and Pikmin.

The addition of these new characters comes at a cost, as the Donkey Kong characters are not in the film. Although they are referenced a few times, they are not part of the Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Maybe they are also in line for a spin-off flick?

Super Mario Galaxy is still a decent watch for Nintendo fans

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has its bright spots. Yoshi is an amazing part of the cast, even though he speaks a little bit. Seeing the villains of Super Mario Bros. 2 was a joy, especially when most of them were left out of the crossovers (save Birdo). Jack Black’s Bowser is a returning feature, as he was the first time around.

The problem is that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie tries to focus too little and relies too much on established Mario iconography. It should have focused more on Princess Peach’s story and given less time to the villains, as Bowser Jr. not as interesting an enemy as his father.

The problem is that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie tries to focus too little and relies too much on established Mario iconography.

Does that mean Super Mario Galaxy Movie is bad? No. It’s not nearly as good as its predecessor. Nintendo fans will have mindless fun watching the fight scenes and pointing at the screen whenever they see a Mario Sunshine reference, which is what it’s meant to be. Not every movie has to be The Seventh Seal: some movies are eye candy, and that’s a good summary of what a Super Mario Galaxy movie is when seen on the big screen.

Nintendo fans who want to switch off and enjoy the nostalgia will find a lot to like in this film. Hopefully the inevitable third movie will tighten things up a bit, but there won’t be much choice, now that Super Mario Galaxy has been replaced, there isn’t much left to do in terms of scope, unless Mario Time Machine is next in line.