'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' Review: The Plumber and His Princess Hit the Big Screen
mario and luigi take on the mushroom kingdom in this theatrical adventure, and despite a weaker story, the colourful animation and select shining performances promise fans a fun time.
Finally, Mario has made his way to the big screen! After decades of iconic games, merchandise, and a legacy virtually unmatched, it seems this animated adaptation was long overdue. There has often been conversation about if, and when, a Mario-centered movie would be released, and since Sonic the Hedgehog’s theatrical debut, for fans, the countdown was on. Now in theatres, fans of all ages can watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie, surrounded by fellow aficionados.
In 1993, a live-action Mario film, titled Super Mario Bros., was released, but after its critical and commercial failure, Nintendo seemed to decide to keep Mario in the arcade. However, a surprising announcement in 2018 promised an animated adventure voiced by an A-list cast. Despite slight online controversy about Chris Pratt casted as Mario, excitement quickly began brewing. Pratt was joined by many other names, including Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, and my personal favourite, Charlie Day as Luigi.
The story is a classic Mario story, with our plumber in red going up against the Koopa King, switching the typical damsel in distress Peach with nervous, loveable brother Luigi. The beginning of this movie was a highlight, depicting aspiring plumbers Mario and Luigi living in Brooklyn, acting as an origin story for these iconic characters. The audience meets the brothers’ family, and for fans, it’s definitely a fun addition. Before long, disaster ensues, and they are transported to other worlds – Mario landing in the famous Mushroom Kingdom and Luigi lost in the Dark Lands. The audience is slowly introduced to well-known characters as Mario works to save his brother from Bowser’s evil clutches.
The story loses steam, and despite a tight 92-minute runtime, it feels a little long-winded, especially through Mario’s journey through the Jungle Kingdom. Seth Rogan’s Donkey Kong is funny at first, but Mario and company’s recruitment efforts for the Kong army slowly get tiresome for the viewer. If more of a focus was on other characters, especially Bowser and Luigi, this may have suited the story a little more. Further, with the chance to really experiment with the characters, it’s disappointing that the characters stayed quite two-dimensional, following a very basic plot.
Interestingly, despite the freedom to include any and all Mario characters, some key characters were left out. Choices to include characters like Cranky Kong but not include the iconic Wario and Waluigi, or to feature a Luma without Rosalina were surprising, and maybe will result in a letdown for some Mario enthusiasts. How can you feature a frightened Luigi without a classic Boo? With how popular this movie has already proved itself to be, fans might be able to expect some of their personal favourites centered in the next adventures. Without including any spoilers, a post-credit scene promises the addition of at least one loved Mario friend in any follow-up projects. However, it may come problematic if an animated movie is merely judged on how many cameos of well-known characters it can pack into its runtime. Without a strong story, nostalgia becomes more important than it should be.
Produced by Illumination, known for the Despicable Me franchise, among other wildly popular titles, it wasn’t a surprise that the animation team created a charming world for Mario and friends. Clearly, a lot of work went into character design, with a creative spin on some of the textbook looks. This movie marked composer Brian Tyler’s first score for a theatrical animated movie, and it’s a complete treat. Tyler worked with Mario composer Koji Kondo to include some quintessential Mario themes, adding another layer to this project. Technically, the movie is very well-made, with its main faults lying within its neglected screenplay.
While it can be controversial to cast celebrities instead of career voice actors in animated movies, it is becoming more and more common. However, despite initial reservations, some actors really show their worth in roles like this. Jack Black was perfectly cast for his role as Bowser, bringing a lot of personality and a comedic touch, his musical number about his love for Peach sure to bring laughs from the audience. Black is extremely talented, and it’s clear he’s dedicated to the performance, encapsulating what it is to be an unlucky-in-love Koopa King. Charlie Day’s Luigi is brilliant, capitalizing on his loveable characteristics and perfecting that skittish, devoted brother.
Finally, Pratt’s Mario was serviceable, and despite fans still hoping for classic Mario voice actor Charles Martinet, it works. The choice to shy away from the plumbers’ thick Italian accents could have backfired, but only a select few viewers will retain that disappointment. Theatres worldwide are flooding with audiences full of children, and for them, this choice is not so relevant. Fortunately, Martinet was brought into the project, voicing Mario and Luigi’s father and another Brooklyn resident who looks like the original Mario design and speaks in Mario’s famous voice. There are Easter eggs like this throughout the movie, but for the truly dedicated, it may not be enough.
This a great film to catch in theatres, if you’re a kid or a kid at heart – fun for the whole family, even if a little uninspired. The animation is top-notch, with fun character designs and dazzling landscapes, and the score and accompanying soundtrack just add to this adventure.