The Quest for the Comet Observatory
The film doesn’t waste any time getting to the “Galaxy” of it all. We open at the Comet Observatory, where Princess Rosalina is attempting to settle the Lumas down for a bedtime story. But the peace is shattered when Bowser Junior arrives in his massive tripod robot, Megaleg. Junior is clearly out to prove he can out-villain his father, capturing Rosalina to harness her cosmic power to fuel his ultimate weapon: the “Boomsday” cannon.
While the story is a bit thinner than its predecessor, the visual variety is staggering. We catch up with Mario and Luigi in Tostarena, a familiar desert locale for Super Mario Odyssey fans, where they quickly link up with Yoshi. The emotional core of the film attempts to pivot away from the sibling bond of the first movie to focus on Princess Peach’s search for her origins. On her birthday, a rogue Luma arrives begging for help, leading to a somewhat baffling structural choice where Peach sets off with Toad, leaving the brothers behind to “guard” the Mushroom Kingdom.
The Star Fox Connection and the Battle for Planet Bowser
The most shocking moment of the film occurs when the group reunites at the Gateway Galaxy and encounters none other than Fox McCloud. Arriving via a hole in the space-time continuum in his iconic Arwing, Fox effectively turns this Mario sequel into the first true “Nintendo Multiverse” film. Fox provides the tactical edge the heroes need to infiltrate Junior’s Planet Bowser space station.
The climax brings us to a bridge over a lava pit—a classic nod to the 1985 Super Mario Bros. game—where Mario cuts the bridge and sends Bowser plummeting. But death is just a temporary state for the King of the Koopas. Bowser emerges from the lava as Dry Bowser, a terrifying skeletal form that raises the stakes for the final confrontation. The battle becomes a psychedelic showcase for Junior’s magic paintbrush, featuring everything from a Mr. Game & Watch cameo to a paint-conjured Ruined Dragon.
A Royal Revelation: Peach and Rosalina
For years, fans have theorized about the connection between the Mushroom Kingdom’s ruler and the protector of the stars. This film finally makes it canon: Peach and Rosalina are sisters. In a moment of high-stakes cosmic magic, the pair use their powers in unison to break free from Junior’s power-sapping device and transform the desolate Planet Bowser into a lush, green paradise.
While this lore change might ruffle the feathers of some purists, it aligns with comments once made by Shigeru Miyamoto and Yoshiaki Koizumi regarding their original intent for the 2007 game. By making them sisters, the film provides Peach with the sense of identity she was searching for throughout the story, even if the “how” and “why” of their separation remains a bit vague.
Post-Credits Scenes: Dark Humors and Desert Royalty
If you stayed through the 16-bit animated credits (a beautiful tribute to Super Mario World), you were treated to two distinct teasers. The mid-credits scene offers a bit of dark comedy, showing Bowser and Bowser Junior in a frosty prison. Their guard is the nihilistic Lumalee from the first film, who cheerfully reminds them that they have nothing but “death” to look forward to. It’s a hilarious, slightly macabre beat that has become a staple of this version of the franchise.
The final end-credits scene is the one that has the fandom buzzing. We return to the Gateway Galaxy, where a thieving Ukiki monkey is suddenly punched out by a gloved hand. The camera pans up to reveal Princess Daisy, the ruler of Sarasaland. While she doesn’t speak, her presence confirms that Mario 3 will likely feature the full “Royal Trio” of Peach, Rosalina, and Daisy.
Is a Super Smash Bros. Movie Next?
The inclusion of Fox McCloud and the brief cameos of Pikmin suggest that Nintendo and Illumination are building toward something much larger than just Mario sequels. Between the multiverse-teasing wormholes and the fighting moves Peach displays during the finale, it feels like the foundation for a Super Smash Bros. event film is being laid.
Whether the next film is a direct Mario 3 or a Star Fox spin-off remains to be seen, but the “cordial” relationship between Mario and Bowser at the end of this film hints that we might be moving toward a world where they can finally put down the fireballs and pick up some golf clubs or go-kart steering wheels.
What did you think of the Fox McCloud cameo? Was it a stroke of genius or did it feel like too much of a distraction from Mario’s story? And now that Daisy has officially arrived, which Nintendo character do you think is the “final boss” of the cinematic multiverse? Let us know your theories in the comments!
