Directed By: Aaron Hogarth, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, Fabien Pollack
Written By: Matthew Fogel
Editor: Eric Osmond
Cast: (Voices of) Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Glen Powell, Donald Glover, Keegan-Michael Key, Brie Larson, Benny Safdie, Luis Guzman, Issa Rae, Kevin Michael Richardson
Mario ventures into space, exploring cosmic worlds and tackling galactic challenges far from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom.
Did we need a sequel to the original movie? No, but considering it’s box office, we knew there would be one eventually. Plus it’s a franchise just as there are so many SUPER MARIO BROTHERS. You knew this would probably come along which at least expand on the super Mario world in the first place and ads familiar faces with some new from the super Mario Brothers lore.
Though again this film feels so unnecessary. Almost like filler, that I am hoping it might be recruitment for kids who it’s obviously more aimed that and giving something to die hard Mario brothers fans the world over.
As the first film felt like the film we all wanted back when the game was popular and when they came up with that disappointing live action movie this sequel just feels while quirky on autopilot as it’s not as much fun. The story is kind of hazy and just a reason to put these characters all back together. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I can’t say it’s as fun or entertaining unfortunately, kind of takes away from the first one or reminds you how much you liked the first one and why can’t this one be just as fun.
The film stays cute though never quite necessary. Sometimes it’s actually even fun, but it does remind me of that BABE sequel; BABE: PIG IN THE CITY where babe doesn’t even really talk or if he does, he says very few words it seemed like with the first film the voice actors managed to make their characters be felt here. It just feels like they have less to say or at least less humor and more definitely dependent on actions and silly physical scenes more. not to mention the addition of just more characters and celebrity voices.
It’s better than when there would be an unenthusiastic straight to streaming your home video animated sequel as this is definitely big and grand. It just doesn’t feel as much fun or inventive as the first film maybe as it came along too fast and didn’t have time to really consider a storyline or wanted to keep it then just so we could stay with the characters and hope that would satiate the audience and the fans.
At least the score helps lift the overall tone. Even if it is mostly memorable music from the video games.
For the fans, I believe this song will be possibly enough, but if you’re not really in the super Mario Brothers, I feel like this will kind of be even more disappointing.
Grade: C
Cut To The Chase 