The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an important movie for Nintendo and the Super Mario franchise. Since the company is branching out from video games to theme parks, the company is clearly on a mission to make Super Mario the next big icon. It’s Miyamoto’s personal mission to make Super Mario the new Mickey Mouse, an animated movie seemed like a logical step in that direction but a good idea doesn’t make a good movie. Is The Super Mario Bros. Movie everything we ever hoped for or is it one of those video game movies we want to forget as soon as possible?
Illumination brings their magic to the Mushroom Kingdom
I’m not going to lie, when The Super Mario Bros. Movie was first revealed, I was rather skeptical. As a huge movie fan myself, I instantly got worried about the pressure on the shoulders of the studio that was willing to take the risk. My worries disappeared a bit when I heard Illumination would be the studio in charge. Illumination proved over and over again that they know how a good animation movie works and what it needs to be successful. With movies such as Despicable Me, The Minions, Sing, and many more, Illumination certainly deserved its spot as one of the best animation studios in the scene. But can they handle the massive weight of the Super Mario franchise? After seeing the movie I can I reassuringly say they nailed it and exceeded my expectations. They really brought their magic to the Mushroom Kingdom and created the best-looking Super Mario world ever created. Throughout the movie I often caught myself thinking “man I wish they make the next Super Mario game this good looking” or “oh wow, I hope they make a game from this fun concept”. The entire movie is a feast for the eyes and everything is packed with references for Nintendo fans.
From classic posters including iconic franchises like Punch-Out!! to obscure posters showcasing Nintendo’s first playing card set. There’s a lot of Nintendo history hidden within the movie and it’s a blessing to see. I adored seeing all those little references from Game & Watch traffic signs to modern Pikmin desk statues, there’s a lot of stuff going on and I could make a lengthy list of all those fun little Easter eggs but in all honesty, I want you to see and discover them yourselves. If you’re a Super Mario and Nintendo fan, you’ll be pointing out all of those fun extras in true Leonardo DiCaprio meme style.
Although I adore the love for the hidden references, it’s not the main reason to go watch this. Let’s jump into the actual story without spoiling the events of course.
A Super Mario story
Our story starts in Brooklyn where we’ll meet the Super Mario brothers who are desperately trying to get their plumbing business going. During the first couple of minutes, you’ll be introduced to the iconic duo and it didn’t take long for me to adjust to their revamped appearance and voices. These dorky brothers certainly are my Super Mario brothers and they pulled me into the story immediately. There are some really funny moments filled with Illumination humor in the opening minutes of the movie but above all, there’s so much screen time for nostalgia and memorabilia. I’m convinced Nintendo fans will love the movie instantly. That being said, in order for the story to advance, our brothers end up in the Mushroom Kingdom where the real fun starts.
Inside the Mushroom Kingdom, the movie splits the story into three different stories all happening simultaneously. One story focuses on Super Mario, and the others on Luigi and Bowser. Needless to say, these stories will eventually intertwine and come together in one big apotheosis in the end but during the main portion of the movie, you’re constantly shifting between the storylines. This helps the movie to introduce a lot of extra characters ranging from side characters to big players like Donkey Kong and the Kong Army. It’s clear that the movie wanted to represent the Super Mario franchise as well as possible without injecting too many ideas or too many cameos in there. For the most part, the movie succeeds in keeping this difficult balance but I must admit there were certain segments that felt like mini-movies to deliver a Super Mario-inspired joke instead of adding something to the story. This might be my only main critique on the story, it’s all pretty cookie cutter and you know where it’s going from the moment it started which isn’t a big issue. The story does lose itself in all of the details and references they wanted to include in the movie which could have used a bit more editing perhaps. I’m really nitpicking here because the pacing is incredible for an animated movie and the story got me hooked until the very end but those little ‘flaws’ are worth pointing out nevertheless.
The cast
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the cast of the movie. When it was first revealed that Chris Pratt and not Charles Martinet would voice our favorite plumber, the internet didn’t really know what the do with it. We’re all used to that cheerful voice of Martinet and in the movie, well, he just doesn’t sound the same but in all honesty, it didn’t really bother me. Chris Pratt and Charlie Day (Luigi) really brought the Brothers to life in a new way and it works pretty well. You still recognise the iconic characters and the voices do fit the Super Mario style a lot.
That being said, Jack Black as Bowser and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach really knocked it out of the park. Both actors managed to give their characters a lot more depth and credibility. Bowser is both dangerous and innocent while Princess Peach is ready to protect her little Toads at any cost. I love this version of Peach and I hope we can see her in a new Princess Peach-orientated game, she’s the badass princess the Mushroom Kingdom deserves.
Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong is getting a lot of heat on the internet lately and yes, Donkey Kong does sound a lot like Seth but he’s also incredibly on point with the franchise. Donkey Kong and Super Mario weren’t friends at all and this chemistry translated well into the animated movie. The voices are all incredibly well done and after a couple of minutes, you tend to forget how the characters sounded in their games. I also loved the small yet impactful appearances of Charles Martinet, who did voice some surprising characters in the movie.
Conclusion:
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a successful animated movie that managed to combine that typical Illumination style and humor with the Mushroom Kingdom. It’s amazing to see all your childhood heroes come to life on the big screen even though they do sound different. The movie is packed with Easter eggs for hardcore fans but let’s be honest here, everyone will enjoy this movie without a doubt, even if you’re not the most hardcore fan out there. A fun animated movie for young and old.
