The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Prequel: “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (2023)

The Mario Brothers are at it again! Following the dynamic duos successful defeat of Bowser and his attempts to take over the Mushroom Kingdom (and marry Princess Peach), the Mario Brothers have gotten used to life in the Mushroom Kingdom. They have become very popular in the land and their brotherly relationship has grown strong as a result. Everything is going great… or is it?

In another galaxy, far far away (wait, wrong movie ha ha), ANOTHER princess, Princess Rosalina, ruler and protector of the galaxy and mother to the stars, is peacefully reading to her star children when, out of nowhere Bowser Jr, Bowser’s son, appears and kidnaps Rosalina and one of her stars. It’s all part of his plan to save his father (who has been shrunken down and held captive inside Princess Peach’s castle), and complete his father’s wish, which is to destroy any planet and inhabitants who dare defy them.

One star, though, is able to escape the invasion and heads to the Mushroom Kingdom, informing Princess Peach of the danger. Princess Peach feels like she knows the name, Rosalina, from somewhere. Memories keep coursing through Peach’s brain—seeing her and Rosalina being separated when they were younger, but she has no recollection of who Rosalina is.

Nevertheless, Mario, Princess Peach, Luigi and yes, Toad too, embark on yet another adventure to save the galaxy again. It’s sure to be, well, super!

I think the 2023 Super Mario Bros film, when it was released, surprised EVERYONE. As I mentioned in the previous review, we can all admit that Illumination has some of the best animation to ever grace the screens. The stories Illumination tell are unique, heartfelt and not necessarily in it for a “cash grab” or shooting for the nostalgia factor (e.g. Disney and Pixar making a FIFTH Toy Story film. Really?). I mean, sure Super Mario Bros did have some nostalgia attached, but the story was original, stood on its own merits, and provided stunning visuals alongside a clean, non-political message about the merits and value of family and finding bravery in yourself. Honestly, if I could, I probably would have increased the star rating from 3 to 4 in the last review as when I currently reflect upon the first film again, I was far harsher than I needed to be.

Nevertheless, with the success of the first film, a sequel was an absolute must by Illumination, especially since the first film broke a Guinness World Record for “most money made by an animated sequel during opening weekend,” $354 million (by the way “… Galaxy” is set to to make around the same this weekend). Case in point, we have the Super Mario GALAXY Movie (not to be mistaken with the first film).

I do stand by one thought that I noted in the first review: sometimes too much nostalgia is a bad thing. While everyone loves cruising down memory lane, no one wants to stay there forever and “… Galaxy” certainly doubles down on the nostalgia of the Mario Galaxy games. The amount of Easter Eggs in the first film have NOTHING on the amount of Easter Eggs (“surprises”) in the second film. I’m not sure, this time, this was a good thing, as the Easter Eggs overshadow the story and the characters.

Look, “Galaxy” is still an incredible and impressive feat of cinematic magic. There are certain moments, particularly at the beginning of the film, that just blow your mind, visually and emotionally, especially if you see this film in 3D, as I did (and I highly recommend you spend the extra $4 and see it in 3D). The performances are still as strong as they were in the first film, although I think the casting, particularly with the new characters, could have been different.

For example, Rosalina (Brie Larson) from what I read had about 8 minutes of screen time for the entire film. I also determined she had about 5 lines in the entire film. It didn’t make sense, though, to grab a large name, like Brie LarsonBrie Larson, to voice what is essentially 5 minutes of dialog. Likewise, anyone could have voiced Star Fox, like literally ANYONE else, as he also had about 5-10 minutes of total screen time and similarly had about 10 minutes of dialog in a 100 minute long film (I told my friend it was as perplexing as having Vin Diesel voice adult Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy films).

Lastly, the suggestive content in Galaxy is still tame and, overall, light in comparison to the first Super Mario Brothers Movie and just in comparison to most animated films that have come out. This is one movie, honestly, you won’t have to worry about taking the children too (hey, it’s even cleaner than some Disney movies currently out).

Slight Amount of Content for Concern

Violence: Moderate but never graphic or appalling, most of it cartoonish in nature (and please note I did not cover everything, just general moments of peril and violence). For example, in a couple scenes Yoshi is seen catching bad guys with his tongue and eating them (most characters are spit back out and only one turns is defecated out as an egg). There are action sequences but most of these are relatively short in length, although I will admit there is a rather lengthy intense action sequence at the end. Some characters are kidnapped. Some characters are seen in perilous moments, and there’s even one sequence where Rosalina has her magic siphoned from her to power Bowser’s planet destroyer. One character, supposedly, falls into lava and dies but the character does rise from the lava and is okay but just a living skeleton-like Koopa now.

In another sequence a castle crumbles around some characters but no one is hurt. A couple of characters are turned into babies by a laser. Some characters are chased by a dinosaur (again no one is injured and the danger is minimal). In another sequence two characters are having to dodge rings and fire links. A young character is nearly eaten but is saved by Mario.

Profanity: None, thank goodness!

Sexual Content: Minor. Bowser is seen shirtless and with a “four pack” of abs in a self-portrait.

Occult: Kazek, the flying wizard and henchman of Bowser, flies on a broom stick and wears a wizard’s outfit. Rosalina, herself, is a witch but her powers are minimal (she is seen levitating at one point).

Other: One scene takes place at a casino

Morals

There is one central theme that is present in both the first Super Mario Brothers Movie and in “Galaxy” and that is the importance of family and that families stick together, no what obstacles come their way.

Indeed whether it is Mario and Luigi, ***MINOR SPOILER*** Rosalina and Peach **END MINOR SPOILER**, or even Bowser and Bowser Jr, the message is the same: family is forever and you don’t get to pick the family you have so make the most of it.

Not only do we, as Christians, have earthly families but we are also part of a heavenly family. Christians are part of one body, one family and that is God’s family. God’s family is always growing, always supportive, always loving and they share a common bond: love for God and his son Jesus. Being part of God’s family is far greater than any earthly family we have. Scripture tells us this….

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” —1 John 3:1-2

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” —Ephesians 2:19-22

And Jesus himself stated in the book of Matthew…

“While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” —Matthew 12:46-50

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

I’ll admit I had my reservations going into Galaxy, similar to ones I had for the first film. I ended up, however, walking out enjoying the film for different reasons than others have had. I laud and applaud the film’s central message, even when it gets bogged down by a little too much nostalgia. Then again, the whole reason you go to a Mario Bros movie is FOR the nostalgia, so I won’t fault Galaxy for this.

Galaxy ends up being a pretty nice sequel to a very successful franchise. Apart from some moments of peril, this film is pretty close to being squeaky clean; like I said, a rare find today. Parents won’t have much to worry about and Christians won’t either. In short, go take YOUR family to “Super Mario Brothers Galaxy.” You’ll be glad you did.

• Violence: Moderate
• Occult: Mild
• Nudity: Minor
• Profane language: None
• Vulgar/Crude language: None
• Sex: None
• Drugs/Alcohol: None
• Wokeism: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.