Rating: 4.5/5
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” released on April 5, sparked feelings of comfort and nostalgia in audiences, including myself, by incorporating various elements of the Super Mario games, which many played during their childhood. The movie captures video game characters that we all know and love, including Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy).
The film begins with the Mario brothers seeking recognition and success as plumbers while they grow exhausted from being belittled. Shortly after discovering an opportunity to gain praise and gratitude from the city by fixing a water main, they enter the sewers and eventually get sucked into an alternate world where King Bowser seeks to overthrow Princess Peach’s kingdom to gain her love. Ultimately, it is up to the Mario brothers to help save this alternate world.
As the trend of casting celebrities as animated characters grows in the film industry, we continue to see more big names in animated movies, as we do in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” Several characters are voiced by celebrities, such as Jack Black as Bowser and Chris Pratt as Mario. Some have criticized Pratt’s voice acting, claiming that it doesn’t suit the Mario character. Although I didn’t have much of an issue with it because the movie was overall enjoyable, I’d have to agree that Pratt’s voice for Mario takes away from the character. Everyone knows Mario has a strong Italian accent and a distinct voice, which we don’t see in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” I was slightly thrown off by this at the beginning of the movie, but the voice acting didn’t bother me as it progressed.
Seeing how intricately directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic put together different aspects of the Super Mario video games was impressive. The scene with various lucky blocks influencing the outcome of Mario’s fight against Donkey Kong was not only entertaining but also hilarious, considering that he transformed into Lucky Cat Mario—cute yet deadly. Overall, watching these aspects come alive was a rollercoaster of bittersweet nostalgia, making me miss the simplicity of my childhood.
Undeniably, the graphics and animation done by Illumination Studios Paris were astounding. The detailed shadows and vibrant colors throughout the movie exceeded my expectations and created not only an exciting watching experience but an aesthetically pleasing sight for the eyes as well.
However, I had one slight let-down—the abrupt ending. The plot definitely could have been more fleshed out, considering how much work was put into meticulously adding details from the Super Mario video games, such as the kart racing scene inspired by Mario Kart. The jump from intense fighting and obstacles to a sudden happy ending felt unfulfilling, and I would have preferred a consistently gradual progression.
Overall, I left the theater impressed and satisfied. The film had nearly every aspect of what I consider to be a great movie, including evoking emotions in the audience, beautiful visuals, and a creative plot, despite the ending lacking slightly. While watching, I was reminded of how I grew up playing the video games reflected in the movie that are now considered old. This movie is a must-watch for those who grew up playing the Super Mario games and even for those who have no experience playing them.