Just One Star Shy: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Strangely Incomplete But Always Joyful

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie delivers colourful cosmic spectacle and plenty of familiar Nintendo charm, but its thin worldbuilding and safe storytelling keep it from reaching the same spark as its predecessor. It’s breezy, playful, and entertaining, even if it leaves its bigger ideas floating unresolved.

The Super Mario Galaxy MovieThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie may be all fun and games for the brothers spending their time in a new world, and as the only plumbers in Princess Peach’s realm, they’re helping keep the peace rather than fixing faucets. But none of them are exactly equipped to deal with their ruler’s current existential woes. When Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) admits she doesn’t know where she came from, the story quietly opens a larger mystery, one it only partially resolves.

That thread leads into the absence of Rosalina (Brie Larson), whose kidnapping by Bowser Jr. sets the events in motion. He leans fully into the shadow of his father, eager to prove himself through familiar cruelty. When this sequel is straightforward and paint-by-numbers, there’s not much to be excited over.

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The Marvels, Who Shall Rise and Who Shall Fall-or Should That Be Who’s Line Is It Anyway?

Even though the Marvels are mostly about giving Kamala a place in the MCU, I can’t help but think she’s replacing Peter Parker.

The Marvels One Shot Final PosterSpoiler Alert

The latest movie set in the MCU, The Marvels, feels a lot more like a Disney movie, and whether that’s a good thing depends on how often The Mouse interferes with Kevin Feige’s plans. This architect has a goal, and this film offers a mixed bag of entertainment that’s not always like a Marvel comic book. Here, what I see is a lot more development of the characters from the streaming series. That is, not everyone would’ve watched Ms. Marvel and Wandavision.

Thankfully the film begins very easily, and gets viewers up to speed. It’s easy to see why the very plucky Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) has a huge case of hero worship to work through before she can be a true hero. Meanwhile, Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) has other issues when it comes to dealing with Carol Danvers (Brie Larson). However, there were many times I thought this film is simply season two of Ms. Marvel.

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