The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has officially landed in theatres, promising a dazzling visual spectacle for fans of the long-running Mario franchise that pays homage to its history, and its many bright adventures.
There’s good news and bad news on that front.
By all accounts, reviews agree that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is visually spectacular, with gorgeous animated sequences elevating bright, eye-popping action. But according to critics, that’s about the sum of this film’s parts.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reviews – quick links
What critics are saying about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Across dozens of reviews on Metacritic, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has achieved a middling-to-low score. As of writing, it sits at a red ‘Generally Unfavourable’ Metascore of just 37, based on dozens of reviews, which all focus on similar elements.
The most enthusiastic review, a 75 at The Seattle Times, notes that it’s a love letter to the Mario franchise, and that it ‘envelops the audience’ in the game’s world with its visuals and action-heavy pace.
‘Every square inch of the screen, from top to bottom, corner to corner, is packed with images derived from the game,’ critic Soren Andersen wrote.
‘The first movie is earthbound. For this one, as the title declares, we’re off into deep sci-fi space. A humongous flying saucer arrives to zap a key character into the great beyond, and it’s up to Mario and his brother Luigi to fly to the rescue. The pace of the picture is headlong, and there’s plenty of running and falling and screaming (plunging into a lake of boiling lava can have that effect on a person).’
The next highest score is a 70 at Collider. This review also praised the film’s charm – although noted a very thin story, with characters underserved by the plot.
That remains a core theme for many of the reviews, with agreement that a strong pace means a breakneck speed that leaves behind anything tangible or interesting about the adventure.
‘Is it a ride that includes clear story structure, comprehensible stakes, or narrative momentum? Not really. Is it a ride featuring a lot of bright colors, familiar characters, and the occasional deranged moment? Absolutely,’ Consequence critic Liz Shannon Miller wrote.
Over at Polygon, critic Michael McWhertor called The Super Mario Galaxy ‘dazzling, candy-coated chaos’ with a ‘paper-thin plot’.
‘Anyone hoping for a more mature plot or emotional weight should probably resign themselves now: Galaxy tees up endless potential sequels and spinoffs, and it looks like the Super Mario moviemaking machine not only has a proven formula at this point, it’s sticking with it,’ McWhertor said.
Watch the trailer
Does a movie need to be ‘good’ to be enjoyable?
A common theme throughout the critical reviews of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is that it’s entirely light-hearted, with flashy animation and action sequences papering over a very thin plot.
But the common thread in most reviews is that a lack of substance only somewhat diminishes the fun of the film, and that perhaps the shiny dazzle of the visuals is enough to make it a solid time at the movies.
It begs the question: does a movie need to be objectively good to be enjoyable?
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is for two distinct groups of people: young kids wanting a safe, fun adventure film, and adults with fond or nostalgic memories of the Super Mario franchise. Given critical consensus, it presents a palette of candy that quickly dissolves, but perhaps with enough flair and enthusiasm that notions of ‘good’ may slip from the mind.
We should have films for kids that are clever and topical, and that challenge as much as they entertain. Likewise, adult fans of the Super Mario franchise should have an adventure that pays loving homage without slipping into heady fan service that encourages brain-off pointing and clapping.
But perhaps there’s room for over-the-top, silly and substance-free adventures, too. There’s nothing wrong with turning off your brain for a moment and letting the cool breeze of slapstick entertainment pass over you. By all accounts, that appears to be what The Super Mario Galaxy Movie offers.
