I’ve been playing Mario games since I was nine, so I was ecstatic to see The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, especially after enjoying the first film. However, by the time the credits rolled, I was disappointed. While the movie showcased great animation and a hefty amount of details, its character development fell flat–especially when compared to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where each character clearly develops throughout the storyline.
Unlike the original, most of the plot did not take place in the Mushroom Kingdom or in the Dark Lands. Instead, the setting shifts to outer space, where Mario discovers new locations and meets new characters. While the idea seems promising, the various details they tried to cover ultimately left the plot underdeveloped.
As Tomatometer critic Zaki Hasan said, “Given the first film’s success and the fanbase it helped build for this sequel, you can’t help but wonder why the instinct is still to go wider instead of deeper, louder instead of more heartfelt.”
A clear manifestation of the lack of depth Hasan argues appears in Mario’s character, as his crush for Princess Peach deepens, but his attitude and depth remain stagnant. In the last movie, Mario mastered the skills needed for the power-ups, and so this movie did not need to show Mario developing his skills any further. With that in mind, his overly confident attitude prevents his character from truly developing.
This lack of development also applies to Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad, since their growth felt limited to the personalities established in the first film. Altogether, Toad and Luigi didn’t change at all, and while this movie focused a lot more on Princess Peach than the previous one, she still remained consistent with her established character rather than experiencing emotional growth.
As for Bowser, I was disappointed with the direction of his development, as it felt like a wasted opportunity. From the first film, Bowser is left in a shrunken form after being defeated by the flower power-up. In the sequel, they had a chance to build on his character change, but that was soon discarded with the addition of other characters that stole the spotlight.
As a continuation of the movie’s counterproductive take on character development, the film features four new characters: Princess Rosalina, Yoshi, Fox McCloud, and Bowser Jr.
Princess Rosalina was the one I was most excited to see, as the trailer showed her strong power and resistance to Bowser Jr.’s attempt to kidnap her. While I wish they had further developed both her character and her relationship with Princess Peach, it was still interesting to see the background of a character fans don’t usually know too much about.
Likewise, having a film too focused on the background details takes away from the movie’s potential. Fox McCloud was another character introduced in this movie, and to say that I was lost is an understatement. As I had never seen him before, I failed to see the connection between him and the Mario world that I’ve been accustomed to.
By any means, this does not mean you shouldn’t watch the movie, especially if you enjoy learning about the movie’s Easter eggs or meeting new characters. While the plot had its faults, the animation is still captivating, and the jokes are still light-hearted. For any superfan or family member, this movie can still be enjoyed. In the same manner, you should most definitely watch the movie for the post-credit scene, as it sparks hope and deep excitement for the future of the Mario movies.
