The intergalactic movie adventure of the year continues as fans can now enjoy Super Mario’s epic journey from home!

THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE features brilliant performances from its star-studded returning cast including Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, and Keegan-Michael Key. The global box office hit also features new cast members Brie Larson, Donald Glover, Glen Powell, and Benny Safdie.

THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE finds Mario and Luigi solving everyday problems in the Mushroom Kingdom with their “let’s-a-go” attitude. They meet a new friend in Yoshi, try to reform a miniaturized Bowser, and eagerly look forward to Peach’s birthday party. A call for help sends the crew across the galaxy to face new worlds, unexpected threats, and iconic characters like Rosalina and Bowser Jr.

Mario, Luigi and their friends leave the Mushroom Kingdom and head into a much larger universe filled with new locations, new challenges and the excitement of exploring the galaxy. The film captures the spirit of the classic Nintendo games while giving the characters a cinematic adventure of their own.

The film introduces new characters and expands the Mario universe, bringing in elements inspired by the Super Mario Galaxy games. Fans can expect plenty of things they know and recognise from the games. Everything is appropriately colourful and there are creative power-ups everywhere.

This being a sequel these actors understand the characters and give them enough personality for them to real shine. Chris Pratt returns as Mario, his voice full of optimism, determination and likeable energy.

Anya Taylor-Joy once again suits the role of Princess Peach extremely well, giving character confidence, intelligence and warmth. The relationship between Mario and Peach works because they feel like equal partners rather than one character simply needing to be rescued as it might more often have been in the game. Times have changed, and for the better. Jack Black and Brie Larson also have roles and they are as likeable as ever. Quite the opposite of the helium-voiced Charlie Day, who personally speaking, I detest as an actor. He’s awful.

Thankfully Taylor-Joy (so brilliant in The Queen’s Gambit) and Chris Pratt have good chemistry which helps the film, with the two characters bouncing off each other naturally throughout the adventure.
The directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic understand exactly what makes Mario so popular and the keep the focus firmly on fun and adventure. The animation is outstanding, with bright colours, creative designs and an incredible amount of detail throughout. Every world feels full of life, from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom settings to the spectacular galaxy locations.

My experience is limited in this area but I believe that this is exactly the kind of film that children will be drawn towards. The direction gives the cast room to create fun interactions, while keeping the pace lively and accessible for younger viewers. If the pace were to slow I can imagine kids getting distracted and losing interest, but I believe that this film will hold their attention. The bold colours, funny characters, exciting action and constant movement make it easy to enjoy, even for younger audiences, although you should note that it is rated PG. And as has become common in recent years in animation the film is not only aimed at children, adults - especially those who grew up playing Mario games - will find plenty to appreciate, especially the references, music and small details.

Fans who remember playing Super Mario games in the late 1980s, early 1990s and onwards will immediately understand the appeal. Mario was one of those characters that defined childhood gaming for an entire generation, whether playing the classic platform games or racing around tracks in Super Mario Kart. I was never a fan of the platform games but I did enjoy the racing games!

The Blu-ray presentation is excellent and perfectly suited to a film like this. The bright colours are a major highlight, with vivid environments, detailed character animation and impressive visual effects. The galaxy sequences especially benefit from the high-definition presentation, with sharp details. The transfer is clean and smooth, allowing Illumination’s animation style to shine through. This is the type of film that looks fantastic on a good 1080p HD or better still as 4K UHD TV. Sound wise dialogue is clear, the music has plenty of impact and the action sequences make use of 5.1 surround sound.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a fun, colourful and beautifully animated adventure that successfully balances childhood nostalgia with modern family entertainment. Children will love the bright visuals, humour and exciting worlds, while adults will appreciate the memories, references and care taken with one of gaming’s most iconic franchises.


BONUS FEATURES:

• NEXT LEVEL: MAKING THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE Go behind the scenes of this epic journey across the cosmos as the visionary creators at Nintendo, the acclaimed filmmakers and artists of Illumination, and the extraordinary cast who redefined these iconic characters reveal the artistry behind every meticulously crafted moment.



• CAST OF CHARACTERS Explore how this impeccable cast masterfully embodied the iconic MARIO BROS. characters, honoring their legacy while captivating audiences across generations worldwide.
  - Mario & Luigi
  - Peach & Rosalina
  - Bowser & Bowser Jr.
  - Toad & Yoshi
  


• EXPLORING THE GALAXY Guided by the filmmakers and cast, audiences embark on a journey through the film’s most iconic settings, revealing the thoughtful layers of nostalgia embedded in each one.

• GALACTIC THEMATICS The emotional core of any SUPER MARIO BROS. film lies in its relationships. This piece delves into the bonds between characters, examining the alliances that are tested, the connections that are broken, and those that endure and evolve forever.
  


• COSMIC TUNES Some sounds are unmistakably SUPER MARIO BROS. Composer Brian Tyler invites audiences inside his creative process, reimagining the franchise’s iconic game music as a powerful cinematic score that drives the action and elevates this epic adventure.
  


• POWER-UPS There is no greater tool in the galaxy than a perfectly timed power-up. Take a closer look at the many power-ups featured in the film, explore how the filmmakers selected which to include, and hear from the cast as they share their personal favourites.
  


• SECRETS OF THE GALAXY Brimming with cleverly hidden Easter eggs, the film invites fans to return again and again to catch them all. In this feature, the filmmakers and cast offer insider guidance on where to look, what to watch for, and the surprises waiting to be discovered.
  

Author : Kevin Stanley