Ep. 869 - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The Filmcast's Episode 869 delivers a scathing yet nuanced critique of the newly released Super Mario Galaxy movie, which, despite breaking box office records and earning strong audience scores, receives harsh judgment from hosts David Chen, Jeff Cannata, and Devendra Hardwar. The panel consistently argues that the film is a visually dazzling but narratively hollow fan-service spectacle, prioritizing spectacle and nostalgia over meaningful storytelling, character development, or emotional stakes. They lament the film’s repetitive structure—resembling a series of disconnected five-minute set pieces—while criticizing its underutilization of Jack Black’s comedic and musical talents, especially given a deleted song that could have elevated the experience. The hosts also express concern over narrative inconsistencies, such as the contradictory revelation that Rosalina and Peach are sisters and that Mario has never asked Peach out, undermining established Nintendo canon. While acknowledging the film’s impressive animation and the standout Star Fox segment, they ultimately view it as a 'black hole of entertainment' that reinforces a trend of safe, formulaic IP adaptations at the expense of artistic risk. The episode also touches on the surprisingly complex world of professional bowling through the HBO Max docuseries Born to Bowl, and briefly reviews the forgettable Netflix action film War Machine as a passable dad movie filler. In a reflective closing, the hosts compare the current film’s shortcomings to the retroactively idealized original Super Mario Brothers movie, using a provocative analogy to underscore how nostalgia can distort critical judgment. Despite their negative sentiment, they concede credit to directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic for delivering a completed, ambitious project. The episode ends with a teaser for next week’s review of The Drama, the new film by the director of Dream Scenario, which both hosts are cautiously optimistic about, though Jeff remains skeptical about its potential to match its predecessor’s acclaim.