The Super Mario Bros Movie Review

Nintendo would like to put its 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. movie in the past, despite attempts by some to reconsider it as misunderstood. The beloved gaming series’ first film adaptation was such a critical and financial disaster that Nintendo vowed to stay away from the big-budget movie industry in the future. Once again beginning with its most popular IP, Nintendo is prepared to dip its toes back into the world of adapting its properties into non-interactive media. There is a lot of excited anticipation for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which will be directed by Shigeru Miyamoto and produced by animation powerhouse Illumination’s Chris Meledandri. Fear not, as the creators of Mario’s second attempt at a theatrical film succeed with the elegance of a flawless speedrun of the first game.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s casting of Chris Pratt as Mario was by far the biggest source of controversy. On paper, his casting and the decision to use celebrity voice actors rather than seasoned voice actors don’t look promising. Fortunately, Pratt enters the scene with his signature charisma. As accurate a portrayal of the character as you can get is his amiable, if awkward, Brooklyn plumber, even though he forgoes the high-pitched voice from the video games in favor of a more traditional Brooklyn accent. Much great is Charlie Day as the adoring, frightened brother Luigi. These two are excellent adaptations of the most recognizable gaming combo, beautifully adapted into another medium, as they battle to launch their budding plumbing business. Even before we arrive at the Mushroom Kingdom, it is clear that tremendous care was taken.

Mario and Luigi are separated when they are dragged into a vortex by a mysterious pipe while working on a particularly challenging task. The Mushroom Kingdom is where Mario ends up. It’s a stunning place full of Toads—humanoids that resemble mushrooms—and is controlled by the kind Princess Peach, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who gives Peach the right amount of grace and spunk. This is among the best American animated films, hence the emphasis on beauty. The Mushroom Kingdom is a rich environment, bathed in nearly lifelike lighting that stupendously accentuates the vibrant character designs, thanks to directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!). Horvath and Jelenic appear to have taken seriously the responsibility of maintaining the iconic nature of the locales while raising the bar for the cinematic canvas, much like the plumbers themselves.

The other locations, such as, but not limited to, the untamed jungles of the Kong Kingdom, the blazing rock of Bowser’s floating castle, and the icy Ice Kingdom, fair just as well. Nevertheless, none of the settings’ “video game-yness” is sacrificed for purported realism. Obstacles and power-up blocks are everywhere! There are a wide variety of bizarre species living in the wealthy planets. As the evil Bowser, who kidnaps Luigi and sets his eyes on the Mushroom Kingdom in order to beg for Peach’s hand in marriage, Jack Black is obviously having the time of his life. It’s a tremendous treat to hear Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen as Donkey and Cranky Kong, respectively, steal a variety of moments. Keegan Michael-Key is pitch-perfect as firecracker sidekick Toad.

Mario is taken on an incredibly amusing tour of these places and individuals at a rapid pace by the narrative by Matthew Fogle. With a running duration of 93 minutes, that pace can frequently feel stifling since it leaves less time for characters who have enough depth to merit those moments to breathe. Prioritizing action is a good thing when the action scenes are executed this skillfully. The Super Mario Bros. Movie captures the momentum and the on-the-spot obstacle avoidance of the Nintendo games in such sequences as Mario and Peach training on a makeshift course, a show-stopping fight with Donkey Kong, and a climatic Kart Race that cleverly plays with gravity. It also features some of the most exhilarating action set pieces since The Adventures of Tintin and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

The “Illumination” of it all follows. The Super Mario Bros. Movie largely relies on the plot it is telling, yet it can’t help but introduce some of the more annoying traits of the House of Minions. There are a few instances where those fantastic action sequences are cut short for some cheap slapstick or crude humor. By far the worst offenders are a few brain-bending needle dips in popular music. Who wants to hear “Holdin’ Out for a Hero” in another animated film, or in any film, for that matter? And what connection does AC/DC actually have to Mario or Nintendo? This is especially unsettling because Brian Tyler’s cinematic score already expertly incorporates Koji Kondo’s original game tunes. It pulls one out of the movie’s environment and acquiesces in the worst aspects of family-friendly animation.

Nonetheless, that was more of a mistake than a game-ending error. There are numerous subtle easter eggs that act as mini-movies in and of themselves in the Super Mario Bros. Movie, demonstrating that it was created by people who genuinely appreciate and understand the ongoing popularity of the video games. The Super Mario Bros. Movie isn’t just a nostalgia trip, either. The reimagined version of the famous plumber for the big screen is a proud celebration of the character’s appeal. The Super Mario Bros. Movie elevates the video game adaptation to heights that were only imagined by wide-eyed kids playing the original video game back in the ’80s with jaw-dropping visuals, a highly amusing voice cast, and an adventurous spirit. Nintendo, nice work.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie hits theaters April 5!

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