The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Film Review
It’s finally here. After a thirty-year wait following the travesty that is Super Mario Bros. (1993), Nintendo finally gave us what we asked for. While The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) is very much an Illumination Entertainment film (i.e. geared for kids), it’s still a ton of fun for adults who grew up with the series. There’s so much to love with only some very minor complaints that truly don’t matter at the end of the day. The movie was exactly what it needed to be, and I’m already clamoring for a sequel. Let’s-a-go!
You’ll Be Hooked on the Brothers
If you’re walking into The Super Mario Bros. expecting high art in terms of its story, I truly don’t know what to tell you. This is a friendly reminder that this is a film aimed at children. You’re not going to be discussing plot points on your drive home, but its nevertheless charming as all get out. What you will be discussing are the multitude of references to so many games from Mario’s library.
Mario and his brother, Luigi, live in Brooklyn, New York. They’ve recently started their own plumbing business, and it’s off to a rocky start. As expected, they stumble across a mysterious green pipe that transports them to the Mushroom Kingdom. In a weird twist of fate, however, they each end up in opposite ends of this new world. While Mario ends up a little closer to Princess Peach’s castle, Luigi lands near Bowser’s territory. The older brother recruits the help of Princess Peach, Toad, Donkey Kong, and other familiar characters on his quest to rescue Luigi from the clutches of Bowser, who also wants to marry the Princess. It’s pretty standard.
While I’m glad for the inclusion of kart racing in the film, this also wound up being my only real complaint with the story. The reason for the karts being there at all felt incredibly forced. It’s almost as if the writers said, “How are we going to get Rainbow Road in there? Doesn’t matter. It needs to be there, so stick it wherever.” Honestly, this just made me roll my eyes briefly and barely takes anything away from the film.
You’re in for a Treat
Let’s discuss the elephant in the room. Chris Pratt as Mario is just fine. I have absolutely no issues with what he brought to the table, but I’d be hard-pressed to say I loved the performance. That’s not a knock on Star Lord at all. He did what was asked. I’ll never understand the pure hatred many have at the notion of this casting.
With that said, the best performances by far were Jack Black as Bowser and Charlie Day as Luigi. Both fell into their roles as if they were made for them, and you can tell that each had so much fun. Black, in particular took the King of Koopas to places I didn’t think I would have enjoyed if I had seen it on paper first. What surprised me the most was how much I enjoyed Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong. His energy fit the character in a way that I never expected. Anya Taylor-Joy‘s portrayal of Princess Peach was also a breath of fresh air. She gave the character a definite level of grace while refraining from coming across as a maiden in need of saving.
What stood out to me even more than the voice work in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, however, is everything you hear from start to finish. The score is a fantastic collection of remixes from several different Mario games. They even managed to include tiny little sound bites that fans of the series will recognize immediately. I caught myself pointing at the screen in recognition on more than one occasion. To top it all off, the collection of licensed music set the tone in a very era-appropriate way while adding the already high-energy and quickly paced storytelling.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Final Verdict
Walking out of the theater, I was giddy with excitement. Yes, it’s a kids’ movie, and I’m over 40. So sue me. I had so much fun watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie with a buddy who loves the series as much as I do. I’m already excited about my next viewing so I can catch all the references I missed on my first experience. It has some of the best animation I’ve seen in a long time, there’s never a dull moment, and it oozes with charm. I can’t think of any reason not to watch this movie, especially if you’re a fan of the games. They’ve cracked the code with this one, and I’m hoping that this is the first of many animated films based on gaming properties. My body is ready.
To hear me talk more about The Super Mario Bros. Movie, be sure to listen to our April 12th episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.
This review is based off of a purchased theater ticket of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The film released in theaters on April 5th, and will release on physical and digital media at a later date to be determined.
Super Mario Bros. Movie
$29.99
Pros
- Impeccable Animation
- Solid Voice Acting All Around
- EVERYTHING ELSE You Hear Is Perfect
- Tons of References for Fans
- Never a Dull Moment
Cons
- One Moment Felt Forced
