Behold, this is Nintendo-style fan service… “Super Mario Galaxy” review (+ post-credits stinger)

Before it even landed in Korea, it was already sweeping the world. 〈Super Mario Galaxy〉, releasing on April 29, is ready to write another box-office hit record following the 2023 predecessor 〈The Super Mario Bros.〉. This time around, the film once again brings together the previous film’s director and cast, along with Nintendo and Illumination. The story shows that once again, when Bowser Jr. kidnaps Rosalina, Mario and Princess Peach set off on an adventure. Ahead of release, this is a firsthand account from the press and distribution screening held on April 15—an early look at 〈Super Mario Galaxy〉. That screening was shown in the ScreenX version.

Even more super visuals and fan service

The ‘Super Mario’ series, which has built and sustained its popularity since ‘Super Mario Bros.’ released in 1985. As a film adaptation of that franchise, 〈Super Mario Galaxy〉 pours out elements from the original nonstop, just like the previous film. Not only the 2017 game ‘Super Mario Galaxy,’ which drew from the title and a rough outline of the story, but also relatively newer titles like ‘Super Mario Odyssey’ and ‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder’—it’s no exaggeration to say that everything about Mario is woven into the movie.

In particular, 〈Super Mario Galaxy〉 goes one step further here. Instead of just pulling in ‘Super Mario Bros.,’ it starts incorporating Nintendo games into the film’s world as well. You’ve got characters that appear briefly like cameos, and you also get protagonists from other series showing up as allies who directly help the main characters. It feels like a test ground for Nintendo’s so-called ‘Nintendo Universe,’ the one they’ve been dreaming about. This is the peak of fan service that only a developer like Nintendo—one that has continued its history by developing a wide range of games—could show, and only a company willing to boldly take part in animation production could pull off.

When you watch the movie, you can tell why, among all those works, they chose ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ as the main material. Rosalina is a popular character, and she’s a great fit to bring in—plus (since ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ is the first work where Rosalina appears), the film can deliver even more dazzling visuals than the previous installment. Nintendo and Illumination, which already showcased slick action sequences in the prior film, now set scenes against a backdrop of outer space and unleash a high-energy sequence with dynamic camera work that’s all over the place. From the opening scene where Rosalina and Megaleg clash, the pulse of the direction keeps building right through to the very end of the film.

But why is the story still…

However, if we’re being brutally honest, 〈Super Mario Galaxy〉 isn’t a complete leap forward in every respect. In fact, one of the biggest problems pointed out in the previous film is basically copied over—the story. The previous movie was criticized for its predictability and the simplicity of its development, and this film is pretty much the same. Of course, if the target is a broad range of ages like 〈Super Mario Galaxy〉 is, then a concise story is advantageous. But regardless of that conciseness, this film is also so simple it’s basically a one-sentence setup, and because it never really triggers a sense of crisis, it’s hard not to feel like you might lose sight of where the extra effort in certain sequences is leading. In essence, this is the only drawback of 〈Super Mario Galaxy〉, and the biggest one at that.

On the other hand, what fills that empty space is the OST and sound effects. Like the previous film, the sound effects that instantly make you think of Super Mario no matter when or where you hear them start up the audience’s heart. And once you add familiar BGM on top of that, you simply won’t be able to hold back the feeling that suddenly surges. Also, the homage elements that span the entire series will satisfy both longtime fans and new fans. Personally, I can confidently say that in the second half of the movie, the trap sequence is the best—hands down—among the film series centered on ‘Super Mario’.

〈Super Mario Galaxy〉 is a work that will make this year’s ‘Super Mario’ series celebrating its 40th anniversary even more fun to enjoy. It’s a shame that the flaws of the previous entry are maintained as they are, but even so, it’s clearly a comprehensive gift set you can enjoy on the big screen that delivers the kind of exhilaration only the ‘Super Mario’ series can provide. So if you found the previous film enjoyable, you’ll likely feel the same about this one as an all-time favorite. On April 29, let’s go to the theater to meet our Mario brothers and Princess Peach.

+ The ScreenX version offers a fairly substantial amount of three-sided screening content. In short, you can say that most outdoor scenes are shown across all three sides. I didn’t check the runtime meticulously, but it feels like about 70% of it. While the ScreenX format may be a love-it-or-hate-it thing, if you’re someone who generally prefers it, you might as well go for it.

+ There are two post-credits stingers in total: one after the main credits, and one after all credits have finished.