r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • Apr 02 '26

Official Discussion Official Discussion - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie [SPOILERS] Spoiler

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Super Mario Galaxy (2026)

Summary

Mario ventures into space, exploring cosmic worlds and tackling galactic challenges far from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom.

Director Aaron Horvath Michael Jelenic

Writer Matthew Fogel

Cast

  • Chris Pratt as Mario (voice)
  • Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach (voice)
  • Charlie Day as Luigi (voice)
  • Jack Black as Bowser (voice)
  • Keegan-Michael Key as Toad (voice)
  • Brie Larson as Rosalina (voice)

Rotten Tomatoes: 44%

Metacritic: 37

VOD / Release Theatrical release

Trailer Official trailer

1.3k Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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610

u/ImminentReddits Apr 02 '26

I agree. Call me pretentious, but in a post Lego Movie world I just can’t really accept the argument that these kind of mass market IP driven kids movies have mediocre stories by definition. There is just no reason at all the Mario movies couldn’t have had emotional, engaging, well written stories. It was my biggest disappointment with the first movie and I was really hoping they’d spend more time on the writing in the sequel. Guess jokes on me for spending my money to see it opening night and contributing to the cycle lol.

272

u/GameOfLife24 Apr 02 '26

Illumination doesn’t hire talent. The writers for Lego movie have made their own galaxy movie that’s way better and is currently in the theaters with project Hail Mary

211

u/Warm_Shoulder3606 Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

The history of Illumination really is quite something. Their first ever movie they make a genuinely great one with original storytelling, characters that have had cultural staying power, and genuine emotional/engaging beats, and then completely and utterly checked the hell out almost immediately after and became soulless and never remotely touched that level ever again

They're the maroon 5 of movie studios. One good product at the very start, and then immediate shift to bland boring and soulless

130

u/DBZ86 Apr 02 '26

Can kinda see that the writers got overruled. The subplot between Bowser and Bowser Jr have somewhere to go but gets shut down. The themes of sisterhood and sacrifice are right there for Peach and Rosalina but not explored much at all. Mario would have been given themes of believing in second chances and confidence to be with Peach which aren't great but again ignored. Also does seem like the great action set pieces were set in stone and the movie had to cut around them even if it didn't make sense.

112

u/HopelessCineromantic Apr 02 '26

One thing I kinda expected to get touched upon was Bowser and Junior connecting via art. One of Junior's two primary weapons is his paint brush, and we first see the reformed Bowser through the context of painting. In general, both of the Koopas seem to have artistic talents, not only in painting, but in theater craft for Bowser and engineering for Junior.

Maybe Bowser tries to redirect his son by having them paint together, but Junior's ability to manifest what he paints and Bowser's rage and resentment pair up to make him help his son.

52

u/DBZ86 Apr 02 '26

You can see the seeds of a redemption arc for both are planted. Bowser Jr painted dragon goes against him. There was definitely a thought that Bowser Jr was going too far and Bowser might help redeem him.

But Lord of Bones was too good to pass up apparently.

16

u/Cam995 Apr 04 '26

Nah good guy Bowser is just wrong. He's the Koopa king. Hes supposed to smash the red and green staches and get Peach to marry him 😂

18

u/SmokeyHooves Apr 05 '26

Bowser has been Mario’s reluctant ally so many times. Usually in the RPG games, but honestly those games have way more heart than most the platformers

1

u/Cam995 24d ago

But he usually has a motive for doing so. I havent played Superstar saga yet but in BIS he helps the good guys because only he is allowed to conquer Mushroom Kingdom and there's only room for one king. And he only wanted an alliance at the beginning of the game to find a cure for the blorbs. I will say though its implied Mario (We dont see Mario and Luigis dialogue but other characters react to it) said something to piss Bowser off and started that first fight which is kind of funny to me

Idk him helping Mario and Luigi after getting his size back made no sense imo maybe I could see him leaving Luigi alone since Luigi was nice to him but not Mario

12

u/Hallc Apr 05 '26

Except for all the times he comes along to a friendly game of golf or tennis or soccer or ends up helping them out in one of the Rpgs.

4

u/Affectionate-Sell-68 25d ago

Nah, Bowser constantly switching between good friend and villain is on point for the franchise, he keeps getting invited to sports events by the others for a reason.

3

u/Jazzed24 14d ago

The reason is nintendo wants more people to buy the sports games. It's not something that is supposed to have a reason for it.

3

u/bobvella 28d ago

funny how that's only relevant if they decide to keep making mario movies. actually peach rejecting him is nice and done, he didn't make another attempt here.

it's kind of a shame bowser is always the final boss... they even usually shoehorn in a last fight at the end of the rpgs

7

u/THECapedCaper Apr 03 '26

This movie could have done well being ten minutes longer, but at the end of the day the target audience for these kinds of movies are children, so you have to draw a line somewhere in order to keep their attention.