“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is a fun, adventure-filled story that will please adults and children alike. The animation is first-rate and the plot is very creative. The occasional incorporation of the old game’s computer graphics is a humorous touch.

The tale begins with Princess Rosalina (all acting citations are voices: Brie Larson) inviting colorful star-shaped creatures, Lumas, into the castle for the night. They are on the Comet Observatory floating in space somewhere. She is about to read a bedtime story to the Lumas when they ask her to re-read one of their favorites. It is about Princess Peach.

There is a loud banging and shaking. Going outside, Rosalina encounters a giant ship that tries to capture her. She is able to hold it at bay for a while, but eventually her magic wand is separated from her and she is captured. The villain is Bowser, Jr. (Benny Safdie) who plans to use the princess’ inherent powers for his own nefarious purposes.

The movie cuts to the planet which holds the Mushroom Kingdom, ruled over by none other than Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). Plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are riding on motorcycles toward the town of Tosterena, where a disturbance has been reported underground.

As they proceed through a series of tunnels and drops, they come to the source of the sound. The maker of the noise is Yoshi (Donald Glover), a sometimes mischievous and impulsive green dinosaur. They become friends and the citizens of Tosterena are thrilled at the plumbers’ success.

Back home, it is the Princess’ birthday. Mario has prepared a special present for her. Luigi and Yoshi encourage him to make a romantic gesture toward her.

Arriving at the festival, Mario presents his parasol to the Princess. She is delighted. Fireworks ensue but Mario is too shy to admit his love for Peach.

Suddenly one of the Lumas appears and begs for the Princess’ help. She and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), one of the Mushroom People attending Peach, agree to go the Gateway Galaxy to rescue Rosalina.

That leaves Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi to handle the kingdom’s issues in the Princess’ absence. Bowser (Jack Black), having previously been defeated by the brothers and then shrunk, offers to help. Mario is not sure that he has been rehabilitated, although Luigi is willing to give him a chance.

A UFO appears, which actually is being run by Bowser, Jr., who wants to rescue his dad. In a fight with the brothers and Yoshi, Princess Peach’s castle is dropped into the Honeyhive Kingdom.

The queen (Issa Rae) is not happy with the destruction of her flowers. She is willing to imprison all of them in the honey mines. Bowser, having been unshrunk to help with the situation about the castle, sacrifices himself to go work in the mines. The brothers and Yoshi are whisked away to the Gateway Galaxy to help Peach and Toad.

While working in the mine, Bowser is saved by his son’s UFO, leading to a happy family reunion.

Will Princess Rosalina be rescued? Is there a connection between Peach and Rosalina? Will Bowser turn on the Mario Brothers after being their friends?

I will issue a caveat for this review by saying that I have never played games in this video universe. My sole connection to this franchise is from what I have read and my viewing of the original Super Mario Brothers movie in 2023.

As far as this picture goes, the animation is superlatively good. There is one scene in a casino where the characters move around the inside of a geometric space but are always level wherever they go. The result is mind-blowing and disorienting.

A highlight of the animation is when Princess Peach and Mario are trapped in a real-life tunnel of death. While we see the real thing from Peach and Mario’s perspective, Bowser, Jr., is throwing obstacles in their way while he sees the original computer graphics. It is hilarious to jump from one viewpoint to another.

Another use of the computer-graphics display occurs when Peach’s castle is rebuilt. The square figures and choppy motion are nostalgia-inducing and funny.

I liked the use of transformations throughout the movie. The question boxes that gave powers to the brothers and Yoshi, while in essence a deus ex machina, which I usually deplore, are here aids to enhancing the adventurous feel of the film. Using shrinking devices and de-aging devices also were amusing.

While the consequences of the Bowsers succeeding were dire for other planets, somehow the menace was not as strong as one would think. This is a universe where right and good prevail, albeit with a struggle. So this lessens the fright factor for younger children.

There is a very poignant moment where Bowser, Jr. recalls being put to bed by a puppet show put on by his father. The animation of the puppet show is very clever and humanizes the villains.

I noticed as well what appeared to be Star Wars tropes throughout the film. There is a Han Solo-like pilot, voiced by Glen Powell. The casino is like the cantina scene. There are Princesses in need of rescue, although that trope has been around forever. Then I realized that next year is the 50th anniversary of “Star Wars: A New Hope”!

The screenplay is so inventive. It is one interesting journey after another through an alternate universe. There are lots of settings on different planets. The humor interspersed throughout the script is witty and often droll. Sometimes it is wordplay and other times it is slapstick.

The real question is whether or not you need to have played the games or seen the first movie to be able to enjoy this picture. That certainly would be helpful, of course, but my gut feeling is that kids will be able to adapt to what is being shown on screen.

Suitable for all ages, I give this picture four out of 5 stars.

Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Issa Rae, Luis Guzmán, Kevin Michael Richardson and Brie Larson
Screenplay: Matthew Fogel
Directors: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic