Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Episode: Level up or game over for SUPER MARIO GALAXY?

Date: April 2, 2026
Hosts: Mark Kermode, Simon Mayo
Guest: Hugh Bonneville

Overview of the Episode

In this week’s packed episode, Mark and Simon delve into a slew of new releases and TV gems, discuss the perils and pitfalls of technology and AI, wade through personal nostalgia and audience correspondence, and serve up their signature blend of banter and insight. They review The Drama (dark social satire starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson), Disney’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie (the latest animated adaptation of the iconic game), the crime thriller Fuse, and the much-anticipated 2026 TV mockumentary—joined by star Hugh Bonneville. Along the way, they dissect generational connections to film, air delightful listener stories, sample the week's box office, and, as always, cap it off with the gloriously groanworthy Laughter Lift.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Banter, Tech Woes & AI Nonsense

[00:00–06:52]

• Simon pokes fun at his lack of tech savvy, Mark ribbing him in return.
• They review their surprisingly sweary attempts to set up HD webcams:
  “But you were doing the swearing. I’m just making that very clear.” (Simon, 03:41)
• Amusing digression into AI errors—ChatGPT wrongly lists Simon and Phil Jupitus as Radio 1’s first openly gay presenters.
  “ChatGPT has absolutely no idea what it’s talking about.” (Simon, 05:16)
  “Is there anything... I mean, it’s clearly just wrong about everything.” (Mark, 05:46)
• Anecdotes about childhood visits to bad movies, the capital of Scotland (“Phil Jupitus”), and the weirdness of AI mishaps.

Housekeeping, Audience Perks & Sweets Chat

[06:53–12:00]

• Promotion for the show’s subscription tiers, Patreon extras, and bonus Q&A.
• Simon scolds the pink jelly babies (“an abomination”), launching an in-depth discussion on the “contrast effect” in sweets—how less desirable flavours make the good ones better.

Parenting, Censorship & Movie Memories

[12:00–15:13]

• Listener advice on showing kids PG-13/adult movies. Highlights a crowd-sourced app for age-appropriate recommendations (showmykids.com).
• Mark recalls being snuck into “All the President’s Men” by his dad’s sly gesturing:
  “The adult world is complicated.” (Mark, 15:03)

Review: The Drama

[15:18–24:26]

• Mark reviews The Drama (dir. Kristoffer Borgli), a “darkly satirical, non rom-com” produced by Ari Aster, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.
• Plot: A newly-engaged couple’s drunken party game uncovers a shocking thought (not deed), derailing their wedding plans.
• Mark’s take: “I thought it was excruciating, but in a good way... It’s a classic bourgeois social satire...” (21:28)
• Memorable quote:
  “If you can possibly go and see this just thinking, ‘I like those actors…’ Don’t find out anything else about it.” (Mark, 18:58)
• Deep discussion on secrets in relationships (citing Gabriel Byrne’s “public, private, and secret” personas).
• Simon posits: “Well, if anything is going to make me watch an Ari Aster film, it’s having Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.” (23:37)

Box Office Top 10 & Mini-Reviews

[27:12–35:25]

• Usual rundown of UK and US box office, with miniature reviews:
  • Scream 7: “Not a moment too soon” (Mark)
  • How to Make a Killing: “The superior film… Kind Hearts and Coronets.” (Mark)
  • They Will Kill You: “Riotously blood-splattered... popcorn fodder.” (Mark)
  • Ready or Not 2: Here I Come: “Better than we had a right to expect.” (Mark)
  • Reminders of Him: “The Nick Sparks of today... baggy, sentimental, but well-acted.” (Mark)
  • Magic Faraway Tree (new entry): Touching audience emails; praised for heart and fun.
  • Project Hail Mary: Full discussion below.

Review: Project Hail Mary

[35:25–41:33]

• Listener Phil (science teacher) points out inaccuracies in the ‘science’ of the film versus the book.
  “The intent is clear, but the wording gave me a quiet biological eyebrow raise.” (Phil, 37:14)
• Simon’s verdict: Enjoyed the movie as an experience, but found it “annoyingly goofy” compared to the book, especially after finishing the novel just before viewing—describes the ending as “like an episode of The Muppet Show.”
• Mark’s rebuttal:
  “You went in having had weeks of me telling you how fabulous it was… and you were slightly disappointed. And I think that does tell us something… the circumstances under which you see a film are significant.” (Mark, 40:06)
• General agreement that the film is big-hearted and Gosling is excellent, but tone and context shape our responses.

Interview: Hugh Bonneville on 2026

[43:27–58:51]

Setup

• Hugh reprises the role of Ian Fletcher (from 2012 and W1A) now as “Director of Integrity” for the oversight team of the (intentionally unnamed and bleeped) 2026 World Cup in Miami.
• The show avoids using “FIFA” or “World Cup” due to legal reasons, leading to a running gag of bleeped names.
  “Every time FIFA or the World cup comes up, it’s bleeped... the executives on the show decided it might be just easier to bleep everything.” (Hugh, 46:15)

The “Pain” of Filming

• Hugh and international cast (Americans, Mexicans, Belgians...) had a hard time nailing the “ums, ahs, ands, and buts”—all precisely scripted for Morton’s Pinter-esque dialogue style:
  “Definitely the hardest job I’ve ever done in terms of learning, because a lot of the dialogue doesn’t make sense...” (Hugh, 49:15)
• Compared to Downton:
  “Downton Abbey as a stately galleon, and this is a jet ski...” (Hugh, 49:15)

What’s It About?

• Like its predecessors, not really about football, but about bureaucracy, management doublespeak, and “ballet” of office politics:
  “It’s about the interaction of characters and the hierarchy within the team—even down to which desk Ian Fletcher sits at.” (Hugh, 53:23)

Memorable Quotes

• “As Ian Fletcher often says, every problem is just a solution waiting to happen.” (Hugh, 58:16)
• On Shadowlands:
  “It’s about love and loss and grief and coming to terms with all those things... If we can’t escape it, it’s going to happen to us.” (Hugh, 57:28)

Post-Interview Analysis: Mark & Simon

[58:51–66:43]

• Simon relays his history seeing Shadowlands (Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins). Mark discusses the perils of stepping into the shoes of an icon (“irreplaceable”).
• Mark defends the show’s disciplined script structure, likening it to Pinter/McDonagh (“every ‘um’ and ‘ah’ is scripted”).
• On not mentioning “FIFA” or “World Cup”:
  “The joke about not being able to say FIFA or World cup is consistently funny.” (Mark, 62:41)
• Both hosts agree 2026 brilliantly satirizes institutional ridiculousness, with broad appeal.

Review: Super Mario Galaxy Movie

[71:21–78:01]

• Mark reviews the Nintendo/Illumination animated sequel, based on the 2007 Wii classic.
• Cast: Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, plus Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Brie Larson.
• Mark’s main criticism: heavy fan-service and Easter eggs for gamers, little appeal for general audiences.
  “For anyone... who isn’t immersed in the world, it’s just noise… It was like being banged repeatedly in the face with a candy floss machine.” (Mark, 77:41)
  Admits to drifting off during the film:
  “[My friend] noticed you nodded off during a part of Mario Galaxy. When you woke up, did you feel like you were tripping balls?” (Mark, relaying Van’s text, 76:27)

Review: Fuse

[78:04–80:22]

• Crime thriller by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water); stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a bomb disposal expert, Sam Worthington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
• Plot: WWII bomb discovery in London triggers evacuation and provides cover for a heist.
• Mark: “Solid, if unremarkable fare. Perfectly entertaining Friday fair... probably best viewed from the sofa.” (Mark, 80:22)

Laughter Lift (Comedic Interlude)

[66:43–68:52]

• Discusses whether the Laughter Lift counts as “elevated comedy.”
• Jokes include puns about “Purgatory” cats, lengthy fart jokes, and Simon's history as a character in Viz magazine.

Audience Correspondence

[70:04–71:21]

• Orla from Ireland shares a touching tribute to her late friend Alex, who spread cinematic joy during lockdown through the show.
• The hosts reflect on such connections fostered via listener community.

Closing & Films of the Week

[80:22–end]

• Mark’s Film of the Week: The Drama (“by a country mile”)
• Next week: Interview with Brian Cox (actor, not the scientist).

Notable Quotes

• “ChatGPT has absolutely no idea what it's talking about.”
  —Simon Mayo, 05:16

• “If you can possibly go and see this just thinking, ‘I like those actors…’ Don’t find out anything else about it.”
  —Mark Kermode on The Drama, 18:58

• “Downton Abbey as a stately galleon, and this is a jet ski… whizzing around the bay at full pelt.”
  —Hugh Bonneville on the pace of 2026, 49:15

• “Every problem is just a solution waiting to happen.”
  —Hugh Bonneville as Ian Fletcher, 58:16

• “It was like being banged repeatedly in the face with a candy floss machine.”
  —Mark Kermode on Super Mario Galaxy, 77:41

Timestamps for Key Segments

• AI & Tech Banter: [00:00–06:52]
• Jelly Babies/Contrast Effect: [10:12–12:00]
• The Drama Review: [15:18–24:26]
• Box Office Rundown: [27:12–35:25]
• Project Hail Mary Debate: [35:25–41:33]
• Hugh Bonneville Interview—2026: [43:27–58:51]
• Post-Interview Reflection: [58:51–66:43]
• Laughter Lift: [66:43–68:52]
• Super Mario Galaxy Movie Review: [71:21–78:01]
• Fuse Review: [78:04–80:22]
• Film of the Week & Close: [80:22–end]

Tone & Style

Witty, warm, conversational, often veering from irreverent pop-culture riffs ("banged in the face with a candy floss machine") to thoughtful, poignant asides about family, life, and grief. The hosts’ friendly rivalry and long history shine through—delivering a genuinely engaging ride for both die-hard film fans and casual listeners.

For more reviews, exclusive content, and brilliant banter, check out Kermode & Mayo’s Take every week.