Yes.

In my opinion, very much yes.

I didn't really like the first Mario movie very much. It was fine as an animated movie, but I found the story rather simplistic and it had two of my least favorite tropes:

1. It assumed the audience can't handle a different universe, so they have to explain why the Mushroom Kingdom is not like Earth, in detail. We've seen a movie before. You don't have to make everything directly relatable to real life.
2. Highlighting the "strong, independent girlboss" character, in the form of Princess Peach, while making the male character (Mario) a bumbling idiot, at least at first. Peach really didn't need Mario at all, which kinda defeats the purpose of a Mario movie. Mario is basically just tagging along on the adventure for most of the movie.

I'm happy to say that both of these concerns are addressed pretty well in this sequel.

Basically no time at all was spent on the "real world" beyond a quick flashback or two. Very little time is spent explaining where things came from or what they are, but neither of them have anything to do with the Earth we know.

There were only two explanation dumps in the movie. One was clearly done for time (to humorous effect) and the other was to explain the relationship between two characters to set up for a plot point at the end of the movie (this one is a retcon, and probably one of the reasons some people are complaining online).

There was a lot I liked about this movie, and unlike the first one, it had very few cringy moments. Everything was a bit more serious, a bit higher stakes.

Almost all the characters are competent and have their moments to shine throughout. Basically, everyone is on-point in this film. No-one is the bumbling idiot. Even gag moments are kept short. I really like seeing a story where all the characters, good and bad, are operating at a high level of skill, so when they help each other or try to harm each other, it's a bigger, more complex interaction.

Lots of stuff happens really fast. Some things could have easily been stretched out, but weren't simply for time reasons.

However, that could just be my perception talking, since it was my first time seeing the film and so I was having to process the novel events in real time. Nevertheless, it seemed like there were a lot more locations, characters, and plot-events in this movie.

As I talked about above, pretty much all the characters are on point. As for characters getting over or underpowered, to my delight, pretty much every character is taken more seriously. Almost all of them are competent and able to accomplish what they set out to do, barring significant enemy resistance. Most characters have their moments to shine. Sometimes amazingly so. I never thought I'd think Bowser Jr was a cool character, but here we are.

As for Mario and Peach, they actually complement each other well. In one scene, they show themselves to match well in skillset, each one saving the other from moment to moment. Peach is still overpowered, but everyone is on point in this film, in my opinion. If anyone gets taken out or hurt, it's not for a lack of skill or power, but because the enemy used some advantage they couldn't defend against.

Overall, the story is more complex. Different groups of characters break off and come back together. It's a pure adventure with very little time spent standing around talking or explaining things.

And I think they did an excellent job with Fox.

A lot.

He joins one group of characters and helps them out at about the halfway point in the movie, and has major interactions for the next quarter of the movie. He's important throughout the latter half of the movie, for sure.

Fox matches the style of the Mario animated universe, but is also distinct. He definitely comes off as a cool guy (YES!), even one of the other characters says so, directly. But it's not done is a "look at me" kind of way. It's more of a confidence that knows when to brag and when to simply get things done without saying a word.

Fox remains cool and collected in all but one scene where he has a moment as the visual gag. But it's something I could expect Fox to lose his composure over.

Glen Powell's voice acting for Fox is great. I think Fox sounds like he should. Definitely different from previous voices of Fox, but it's an appropriate voice.

I think so. He is given a serious role, and is essential to progressing the story.

Interestingly, he starts off kinda like a Han Solo type character. Literally, he's asked to transport people for money, and Fox is all too willing to oblige when he sees gold. Perhaps this is a while after Star Fox 64 when he starts getting desperate for funds.

Regardless, he's clearly a good and noble guy. I enjoyed seeing him on screen.

Yes, at least twice. Mostly during the times Fox is fighting another ship in his Arwing.

One is a rendition of the Corneria theme from Smash Bros Melee and another is definitely from Star Fox 64. I think it is part of the theme played in the intro cutscene.

It's interesting how they did it. Star Fox themes just kinda start up out of nowhere, and it's a different tone than the other Mario music playing in other parts of the movie.

This is one of the best and also funniest scenes in the movie.

When asked who he is by Toad and Princess Peach, he barks out "NO PERSONAL QUESTIONS!" before he immediately launches into a fast-paced explanation. In less than a minute he gives the rundown of his entire character, backstory, talks about his crew of Falco, Peppy, and Slippy, and finally mentions why he is here on this planet specifically. He even throws in a humourous comment about Slippy's skills as a mechanic.

It's hard to express how fun this is. The art style shifts to wildly different versions. There's one frame showing the whole Star Fox 64 team in kind of an anime-type stylized look. I am sure we'll see wallpapers made out of several frames from this quick sequence.

Transport. Then an actual Arwing battle. Then having a breakdown when his Arwing breaks down. Then more transport. Then more spaceship battles. If you need someone to pilot and fight in a space ship, Fox is your guy.

You already know Yoshi and Fox.

Donkey Kong is mentioned and shown briefly, but I don't think he even has a speaking role.

Pikmin appear in a spaceport.

ROB the robot (the NES accessory) is an information desk attendant.

Mr. Game & Watch is a magical construct Luigi created by using Bowser Jr's magic paint brush.

It's almost 4AM, I must sleep. Don't worry, I took some notes, so I will be filling this section out tomorrow. Sorry about that.

Yes, there are 2.

Well, they clearly indicated that Fox is from another universe. A simple warp drive malfunction got him there, and a repaired warp drive could get him home. I think this easily opens the door for a Smash Bros style merging of character stories eventually.

As for a Star Fox movie or whatever, it's certainly possible. Fox was far more than a quick cameo, and they went into way more backstory than was necessary for his role in the story, so I could see Nintendo using this to plant the seeds for people to become interested in an upcoming movie.

However, no particular wording or event directly pointed to a definite Star Fox movie that I recall. We can hope though. I'd definitely watch a whole movie with this Fox. I can only imagine the crazy things they'd do with the rest of the Star Fox team in such a film.

Yes