MOVIE REVIEW: THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE

 

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a 2026 animated adventure comedy film based on the 2007 video game Super Mario Galaxy and its 2010 sequel, as well as Nintendo's broader Mario franchise. 

Director: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic

Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Kevin Michael Richardson, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Issa Rae, Luis Guzmán, Brie Larson

Release Date: April 1, 2026

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Rated PG for action, mild violence and rude humor

Runtime: 1h 39m

Review:

The Super Mario Galaxy movie is a colorful collection of frenetic action set pieces thrown onscreen in rapid succession which feels like mainlining fructose until you collapse.  Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic return behind the camera and you can’t fault them for going full bore by making everything bigger, brighter and louder from the start and rarely pulling back on the brakes.  Their film is a visual feast of candy-colored worlds that are populated by a seemingly endless assortment of characters which should keep the younger kiddos entertained for large portions of the film’s runtime.  There is a literal cornucopia Easter Eggs scattered throughout for fans of video game franchise along with a few inspired 8-bit meta moments that really stand out.  The action is well constructed and fun, especially early on, but the seemingly endless set pieces start to wear as the threadbare story gives the characters and audience very little to work with.  The plot almost feels like an afterthought with its main purpose being to move the characters from one world to another in steady succession.  The two main plots involve a long-lost sister and father/son story which would have been more engaging if the film had given its characters a moment to breathe which waste the talent assembled.  Anya Taylor-Joy seems to be trying the most to get something out her character moments during film although you are left wishing her character had a bit more time with Brie Larson’s Princess Rosalina before everything wraps up.  Chris Pratt is fine throughout, but he still seems off as the voice of Mario for some reason as opposed to Charlie Day who fits Luigi’s neurotic energy perfectly.  Jack Black does his usual shtick as a sort of reformed Bowser with Benny Safdie taking on the role of Bowser Jr. who’s trying to rescue his dad.  When their characters are onscreen together, they do have a fun, father son banter which the film never truly takes advantage of.  Donald Glover voices franchise favorite, Yoshi, but if you didn’t know it was him it wouldn’t register at all since there’s not much to the character when it all said and done outside of some cutesy moments.   It sidelines, Keegan Michael Key’s Toad which leaves him with very little to do in his limited screentime.  Ultimately, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will probably keep diehard fans and smaller kids entertained for everyone else it’s little more than a fizzy, sugary drink that doesn’t linger too long on the palette.  

C-

MOVIE REVIEW: THEY WILL KILL YOU

 

A woman answers a cryptic ad for a housekeeping job at a luxurious yet foreboding New York City high-rise. Upon arrival, she discovers residents have vanished without a trace for decades, fueling whispers of a satanic cult lurking in the shadows.

Director: Kirill Sokolov

Cast: Zazie Beetz, Myha'la, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, Patricia Arquette

Release Date: March 27, 2026

Genre: Horror, Comedy

Rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, language and brief sexual content/nudity.

Runtime: 1h 35m

Review:

They Will Kill You has all the makings of a fun over the top exploitation grindhouse film, boasting a handful of visually impressive action sequences that are incredibly fun, but the undercooked story keeps it from being something really special.  Writer/Director Kirill Sokolov’s film has a fun energy that seeps through the screen especially once the first action sequence hits the screen.  The arterial blood splattered across the screen is going to give more than a few people flashbacks of Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Volume 1.  Sokolov throwing that sort of action into a devil cult seems like a slam dunk as it’s even more over the top and extreme than the recent Ready or Not films.  The action set pieces are wonderfully choregraphed with each moment delivering a very distinctive visual from the initial bedroom fight to a fun vent chase and topped with a fire axe sequence that’s the highlight of the film.  The kinetic action is sure to keep genre fans thoroughly entertained for large chunks of the film’s runtime but there’s a noticeable lull in between those moments since the story leaves more than a bit to be desired.  Zazie Beetz makes for an intriguing, blood splattered heroine as she brings an impressive intensity to the role that shows off her total commitment to the role.  She is more than willing and able to deliver so much here but the script offers her and the supporting characters the thinnest of characterizations which waste the talent assembled.  Patricia Arquette, sporting a strange Irish accent, does what she can with as the cult leader and de facto villain but there’s painfully little on the page to work with outside of the most basic defining characterization.  Heather Graham and Tom Felton are given even less than that to work with both as they serve as little more than familiar faces to be chopped through over and over again.   It doesn’t help that the dialogue is painfully clunky and strangely lacking in any tongue in cheek wink and a nod about how silly the whole thing is.  There’s a message mixed in there about the rich taking advantage of the poor, but it’s so ham fisted that it doesn’t land the way it should much like the central relationship between the sisters which leaves They Will Kill You less memorable than it should be.  

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME

 

After surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace discovers she's reached the next level of the nightmarish game, and this time with her estranged sister, Faith, by her side. To survive, Grace must keep Faith alive and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are also hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins will rule it all.

Director: Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin

Cast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood

Release Date: March 20, 2026

Genre: Horror, Comedy

Rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, pervasive language and brief drug use.

Runtime: 1h 48m

Review:

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come offers up a bigger, bloodier bit of carnage that should provide fans of the original plenty to enjoy, powered by another ferociously fun turn from Samara Weaving who’s paired with Kathryn Newton this go around which brings a fresh dynamic to the film.   Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Radio Silence, return behind the camera for this follow and do so with a self-assured sense of confidence that comes through every frame.  The script picks up immediately after the first one ended and it immediately opens up the world and concept overall to include a global cabal of Satan worshippers and another round of the murderous game with much higher stakes.  It doesn’t make a ton of sense if you think about it too much, but it does offer up the chance to introduce another group of murderous blue bloods who are on the hunt for Samara Weaving’s Grace.  Weaving picks up right where she left off in the original film, easily inhabiting the character’s skin with a less naïve turn after what she experienced on her wedding night.  Kathryn Newton joining the fray as her long, lost sister brings something fresh to the table which keeps this entry from being little more than a rerun of the original film.  As a result, this entry has its own vibe even if the general concept is the same as the pair’s natural chemistry together makes the whole thing incredibly watchable and fun.  They bring a natural sibling energy to the characters which makes it easier to overlook some of the clunkier and generic aspects of their backstory.   They’re both clearly having a great time, especially as the action gets bloodier and bloodier as the film goes along with a battle of brides to be proving to be the comedic high point of the film.  The supporting characters are led by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy’s twin siblings who are trying to keep control of the council seat that runs the world.  They serve as solid foils to Weaving and Netwon’s sisters, but their backstory and relationship feel a tad undercooked, suffering from generic motivations.  Gellar and Hatosy are both solid in the roles, but you are left wishing they’d been given something a bit meatier to work with especially as Hatosy’s Titus Danforth is revealed to be the more brutally unhinged of the two.  The rest of the supporting players are mostly cannon fodder for the sisters with each making the most of their limited screentime, personally would have loved to have seen more Néstor Carbonell’s gloriously over the top Ignacio El Caido.  Minor issues aside, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is an incredibly fun follow up to the original which is sure to leave fans grinning by the time the credits roll. 

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: PROJECT HAIL MARY

 

Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory slowly returns, he soon discovers he must solve the riddle behind a mysterious substance that's causing the sun to die out. As details of the mission unravel, he calls on his scientific training and sheer ingenuity -- but he may not have to do it alone.

Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, Priya Kansara, Liz Kingsman

Release Date: March 20, 2026

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and suggestive references.

Runtime: 2h 36m

Review:

Project Hail Mary is easy to enjoy blockbuster that melds 2001 with E.T. that’s powered by impressive visuals and stellar turn from Ryan Gosling that propels the film to impressive heights.  Phil Lord and Chris Miller deliver a solid combination of emotion and large-scale visuals that make for more than a handful of dazzling moments.  Interspacing flashbacks throughout gives the film a slow reveal of the plot that works well since Gosling’s character awakens in a state of semi amnesia.  The slow rolls out does more to flesh out the character than it does to provide any real surprises as to how he ended up on the ship in the first place.   Those flashbacks give Sandra Hüller time to flex her impressive dramatic muscle as she delivers a rather textured turn as the mysterious woman tasked with trying to save the Earth who recruits Gosling’s, school teacher, Ryland Grace.  Hüller and Gosling share strong chemistry together which leaves you wishing the film had given their relationship just a tad more time to germinate especially since they both working off each incredibly well.  Lionel Boyce’s officer Carl also could have used more screentime as well since they also work off each other with a naturalistic ease that really speaks to their fast friendship.  It’s a minor issue but considering the film’s sizable length it would have been great to have those relationships fleshed out a bit more especially since both performers are begging for more to do.  That being said, this film is carried from start to finish by Ryan Gosling’s multi-faceted turn that makes the entire thing so incredibly watchable.  Gosling is in rare form here as he seamlessly shuffles through a series of emotions over the course of the film.  It’s a particularly impressive since he’s working with a puppet for the majority of the time in the form of his alien counterpart Rocky.  The fact that their relationship comes through as genuine and believable is a testament to his talent and the vocal work from lead puppeteer, James Ortiz.  Their relationship plays out like an older version of Elliot and E.T.’s relationship from the Spielberg classic with much more collaboration at play as they try to save their respective worlds.  Their bromance is fun and heartfelt enough that you won’t mind too much that your heartstrings are being purposely pulled for maximum “aww” effect.  It’s not a terribly complicated or revelatory story but Gosling provides so much depth to his accidental, coerced hero that you can’t help but get enveloped in their journey even if Project Hail Mary has nearly as many false endings as Return of the King.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: UNDERTONE

 

A podcast host covering spooky content moves in to care for her dying mother. When sent recordings of a pregnant couple's paranormal encounters, she discovers their story parallels hers, each tape pushing her toward madness.

Director: Ian Tuason

Cast: Nina Kiri, Kris Holden-Ried, Adam DiMarco, Michèle Duquet, Keana Lyn Bastidas, Jeff Yung, Sarah Beaudin, Brian Quintero

Release Date: March 13, 2026

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated R for language.

Runtime: 1h 25m

Review:

Undertone auditory focused horror is a novel approach to creating a sense of building dread and tension, even though the story boasts a bevy of well-worn tropes, that leads to a frightful funhouse finale which is sure to be divisive.  Writer/director, Ian Tuason, feature film debut is impressively well constructed using the single location setting to great effect by creating a claustrophobic sense of isolation for his lead character.   Tuason borrows from multiple sources to craft his story which leans heavily into religious horror ala The Exorcist while mixing it with a heathy dose of elements from the Paranormal Activity films with a sprinkle of 1981’s Possession.  His use of a static camera to slowly reveal blink or you’ll miss them imagery which makes for a handful of effective moments of dread, rarely relying on cheap jump scares.  It’s definitely more of a slow burn approach which requires a fair amount of patience as we follow Nina Kiri’s Evy descent into darkness.  Kiri is the lone performer onscreen for the better part of the film, Michelle Duquet’s Mama is comatose for the majority of the film, and she delivers a solid if even performance.  Kiri is far more comfortable in the podcast portion of the film, playing off Kris Holden-Ried’s disembodied voice on the phone with naturalistic ease that gives you a sense they’ve known each other for a good amount of time.  The story doesn’t give this relationship nearly enough time to fully establish their connection or even why they started this podcast in the first place which would have provided some better insight into both characters.  There are bits and pieces of background information dropped about Evy which leans heavily into Catholic guilt while also leaving open a sliver of an opening as to whether anything we are seeing is real or simply a result of her having a severe mental breakdown.  The moments with her bed-stricken mother are a tad clunkier than they should be but it’s hard to place all the blame on Kiri since the script has some terribly generic characterization and dialogue.  Jeff Yung and Keana Bastidas's performances as Mike and Jemma as the doomed couple on the audio files are solid throughout, painting a vivid picture of their Paranormal Activity like experience which propels the action into Undertone’s finale which is sure to provide its fair share of chills and groans.  

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: HOPPERS

 

When scientists discover a way to transform human consciousness into robotic animals, Mabel uses the new technology to uncover mysteries of the animal world that are beyond anything she could have ever imagined.

Director: Daniel Chong

Cast: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Melissa Villaseñor

Release Date: March 6, 2026

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi

Rated PG for action/peril, some scary images and mild language.

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

Hoppers is a chaotic mix of Avatar, Mission Impossible and Game of Thrones in the form of an animated kid’s film that leans heavily on its endearing charm even as the story veers wildly in all sorts of directions, especially in its final act.   Anyone familiar with Daniel Chong’s long running Cartoon Network series, We Bare Bears, will find plenty of similarities at play in this feature as his overreaching theme of environmentalism, characters finding their way in unfamiliar societies and friendship are all present.  Chong moves his film along at a steady pace after setting up the general concept and characters by introducing the audience to the lush animal kingdom.  The visuals are impressive throughout as we traverse the colorful, animal world that looks like a mix of The Wild Robot and We Bare Bears’s character designs.  Piper Curda and Bobby Moynihan voice the central characters of Mabel and King George, the beaver monarch, who make up the emotional core of the film.  Curda’s character is headstrong to a fault which leads her to make more than a few questionable decisions throughout especially if you start to really analyze the plot.  She shares some solid chemistry with veteran comedian and voice actor, Bobby Moynihan whose King George is instantly likable.  The rest of the kingdom’s kings and queen, however, are played as much more cutthroat especially once they find out what the mayor, voiced by Jon Hamm, has planned for the glade.  Once the council is introduced you get the sense that Chong has way too many ideas on his mind and has the story veer into strangely aggressive areas that are played as zany and over the top but are kind of strange choices for an animated family film when you really start to think about it.  There’s a noticeable sense that he would have been better off keeping Hopper’s story more tightly focused, which would have made the emotional aspect of the story far more impactful than it ends up being when it’s all said and done.   

B