The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Released April 6, 2023
Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
* No spoliers *
Mario is one of the most iconic characters in modern pop culture, with dozens of games in various genres over the last 40 years. I grew up playing the games and they have always had a soft spot in my heart. The franchise has always been light on story and focused on simple, addictive, and accessible gameplay geared towards children but easily enjoyed by any age group. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is full of that same spirit.
Like other family freindly action-adventure films, the story was simple and a bit cliche, but also engaging and easy to follow. The theme of teamwork and sticking together along with the bond between Mario and Luigi was wholesome and heartwarming. What stood out most is the comedic dialogue and superb performances. Illumination Pictures and Nintendo perfectly captured the whimsical fun of the games while being completely self aware of what they were adapting. The humour is innocent and appropriate for children, but definitely geared more towards adults. It is constantly poking fun at how ludicrous of a concept it is for a mushroom powered Italian plumber to rescue a princess from a monstrous turtle creature.
With so many new movies clocking in at 3 hours or more, it was refreshing to have a tight 90 minute story for a change. I left satisfied and the fast pacing made it feel shorter than I expected. That said, this movie was non-stop, moving from one action sequence to another with short breaks for a bit of plot and exposition. I get that it is a kids movie but it felt like being fed a multi course meal consisting of sugary snacks. Think Sour Atomic Airheads, Pop-rocks, and Nerds all washed down with an electric blue Slurpee. Sensory overload in some ways, but perfectly suited for a child (or adult) with a limited attention span.
I was most excited to see how this stacked cast would bring these characters I grew up with to life....except for Chris Pratt (Jurassic World, Guardians of the Galaxy). As soon as I heard he was cast as Mario I was disappointed and thought Nintendo only chose him to have a big American star to anchor their movie with. I like Pratt but he always felt like a miscasting for the character. Despite my concerns, I was pleasantly surprised with how well he worked as Mario. He wasn’t fantastic, but he delivered a solid performance. I can think of others who would have been better, but he fit the pure-hearted underdog protagonist they were going for just fine. Unfortunately, compared to the rest of the cast he felt a little boring .
On the other hand, the supporting cast couldn't have been a better fit for each role. They carry the movie and are the reason I enjoyed it as much as I did. Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Horrible Bosses) is an inspired choice for Luigi, he is silly, frightened, and had great chemistry with Pratt’s Mario. I just wish we had more of the two characters together. Anya Taylor-Joy (The Menu, Queen's Gambit) was great as a tough and confident Princess Peach and was a refreshing take compared to Peach's usual role as a damsel in distress. Seth Rogen (Superbad) as Donkey Kong and Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele) as Toad were both hilarious and I will forever think of Rogen’s signature laugh when I see Donkey Kong.
The cast was wonderful but Jack Black (School of Rock, Kung-Fu Panda) as Bowser stood above everyone else and was the highlight of the whole movie. He steals the show every time he is on screen. Black is having so much fun with this role and he brings all of his hilarity, chaos, and charm to a character that could have easily been a bland and angry antagonist. I am so glad he was cast. There is a song in this movie that is so catchy and perfectly pokes fun at Bowser's obsession with Princess Peach. I need more Mario movies just to hear Jack Black play this character again!
Visually this is a beautiful, colourful, and vibrant depiction of some familiar locations. The movie heavily plays on nostalgia for older viewers and highlights aspects of various Mario games, including a wicked sequence on Mario Kart's classic Rainbow Road. The intergration of iconic Mario power-ups throughout the movie kept the action fresh and unique. Another highlight was the incredible musical score by Brian Tyler (F9: The Fast Saga, Avengers: Age of Ultron). Mario is known for its catchy tunes and jazzy rhythms and this score honours that. Tyler took inspiration from Koji Kondo’s classic themes and adapted them with a modern orchestral action score so well. Again capitalizing on the nostalgia of the video games.
Nintendo has a rough history when it comes to film adaptations (the original Super Mario Bros. movie (1993) was dreadful and a huge critical failure) but Illumination's The Super Mario Bros Movie is a great first step for what I expect will be a new series of Nintendo films. I hope all of them can have the same understanding and respect of their source material and deliver a fun filled adventure like this.
7/10 - Whether you are a fan of the games or have never played one before you will have a great time with this movie. It’s not perfect but I was looking for a whimsical, comedic, adventure story and that is what I got. Nice to have story with a bit more heart than I expected. I would totally recommend it if you were on the fence, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is very good!
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