Chris Pratt, Charlie Day Sequel

As with so many cinematic adaptations of video games, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie doesn’t leave you time to catch your breath. The operative word for this sequel to 2023’s smash hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie is “more,” as in more action, more characters, more Easter eggs, more everything. It even centers much of the story in outer space. If you’re looking for a James Bond movie equivalent, it would be Moonraker.

Not that any of this will necessarily be a problem for the youngsters, or for nostalgic adults who grew up playing the Nintendo games and seem intent on never moving on from their childhood obsessions. Relentlessly fast-paced and filled with hyperkinetic visuals, the sequel hits the sweet spot in terms of what its target audience wants, even if adult non-aficionados will find little of interest other than the starry vocal cast.

And what a cast it is. Among those returning from the first film are Chris Pratt and Charlie Day as Mario and Luigi; Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, in charge of the Mushroom Kingdom; Jack Black as the villainous Bowser, now shrunken in size and forced to participate in a book club; and Keegan-Michael Key as the loyal Toad.

Now add to that Donald Glover as the adorable dinosaur Yoshi; Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., intent on getting revenge for his dad’s capture (between this and Happy Gilmore 2, The Smashing Machine director seems intent on exploring his silly side); and Oscar-winner Brie Larson as Princess Rosalina, whose kidnapping by Bowser Jr. sets the plot, such as it is, in motion. It’s an embarrassment of vocal riches.

Oh, and let’s not forget Glen Powell as the macho, Han Solo-like Fox McCloud, in a crossover from the Star Fox games, whose appearance was kept a secret by those crafty folks at Universal until just a week before the film’s opening. It all makes you feel bad for those hardworking, unknown voice actors from the games who don’t even get considered when their properties make the leap to the big screen. Although it must be said that many of the stars’ contributions here, especially those of Black and Glover, are outstanding. It’s also refreshing that most of the time, the celebrity voices aren’t instantly recognizable.

If I digress, it’s probably because there’s not a lot to say about the film, which basically involves the plumber brothers, accompanied by Princess Peach and Toad, venturing into space to rescue Rosalina. Cue the endlessly frenetic actions sequences, rendered in eye-popping, color-saturated animation that feels like the visual equivalent of sugary sweets, punctuated by the occasional jokes and gags that played well with the audience at the children-packed press screening.

Matthew Fogel’s screenplay, which mostly pays lavish fan service to its inspiration, also weaves in a few emotional elements. There’s a distinct romantic vibe between Mario and Princess Peach (which I can’t wait to be explored in the next installment), and some real father-son issues between Bowser and his offspring, who seems intent on outdoing him in villainy. There’s a funny visual gag revolving around Mario’s inability to draw. And there are some amusing lines that seem designed to make us feel like we’re in on the jokes, such as a character complaining, “That monkey just used his cuteness for crime!” and another complaining, “What is it with you princesses and getting captured?” Indeed.

One truly funny highlight is the scene featuring R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy), who proves just as unhelpful manning an information desk as the sloth DMV clerk in Zootopia. Needless to say, cuteness abounds, from those adorable Lumas to Luigi and Mario transformed into babies, minus their trademark mustaches. But the less said about the latter the better, since the film’s creators may take it as encouragement for an infant Mario Bros. prequel.