The Mushroom Kingdom has gone interstellar in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
While the transition from Nintendo classic to silver screen is a visual treat, the end result is a bit of a mixed bag.
Giving readers the verdict, The Clare Echo editor Stuart Holly and his two little helpers went along to review the film at the Arc Cinema in Ennis where they catch a Friday matinee.
The story kicks off with the brothers, Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), stumbling into a cosmic conflict after rescuing their new cutsie pal Yoshi (voiced by Donald Glover). From there, the plot launches into a race across the cosmos to stop Bowser and his long lost son, Bowser Jnr from harnessing the power of the Grand Stars. Along the way, they team up with Rosalina (Brie Larson), who guides them through gravity-defying landscapes that mirror the iconic game levels.
While the critics might be divided, the household “expert” panel has spoken: Aoibh (7): A big fan of the humor and Brie Larson’s Rosalina. She felt the movie was funny and settled on a respectable 4/5 stars.
Dylan (5): The undisputed hype-man for the film. He was all about “the green dinosaur” Yoshi and was so thrilled he awarded the film a mathematically defiant 2,000/5 stars.
Their absolute favorite moment was that early-movie rescue mission of Yoshi. Realistically, once you look past the candy-colored visuals, the movie is fairly forgettable. There are nice moments when the score leans into the original Nintendo themes, and the “game-accurate” visuals provide a lovely hit of nostalgia for those who grew up with a Nintendo controller in hand.
However, the film struggles to bridge the gap between age groups. While the characters are strong, the storyline is not. Unlike many modern animated features, there is almost nothing here for adults—no subtle jokes or thematic depth to keep the grown-ups engaged while the kids stare at the screen. It’s a film that may even struggle to hold the attention of older children who crave a bit more substance.
Despite the mid-tier plot, the experience at Ennis Cinema was anything but. The experience was seamless from start to finish, providing a high-quality cinematic atmosphere that feels special for the kids. Speaking of the kids, the “Candy Floss” (or “Cotton Candy” as Dylan and Aoibh insist on calling it) was the perfect accompaniment to a trip to the stars.
The Bottom Line: If you have young children, they will likely find it out of this world. If you’re over the age of ten, you might find yourself wishing for a “skip level” button.
Final Score: 2/5 Stars (Adults) | 2,000/5 Stars (Dylan)
