Hold on to your Warp Pipes, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is coming to theaters soon, and it’s going to thrust you into the Mushroom Kingdom, where audiences and fans will join Mario and Luigi on an action-packed adventure filled with lovable characters, and lots of Easter eggs to keep even the most dedicated Nintendo aficionados satisfied.
I’ve been seeing a lot of mixed reviews for this movie, and I’d say I’ve come across more bad than good. I don’t really know what critics were expecting from this movie, but I enjoyed it! It was a lot of freakin’ fun, and I had a smile on my face from beginning to end! Also, this movie is first and foremost made for kids. If critics can’t tap into their inner child to watch this movie, of course, they aren’t going to enjoy it!
Sure, it’s not going to win any of the big awards. It tells a very simple and silly story, but it tells that story in a fun Super Mario Bros.-style way and it’s executed well. It takes audiences on a wild fast-paced ride as the heroes of the story, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad, battle Bowser and his army of Koopa Troopas to stop them from destroying the Mushroom Kingdom.
I also enjoy the vibrant style of the film, which perfectly captures the style of everything that we love about the game. The world of the movie feels alive with each location bursting with its own unique personality and charm. Each setting in the movie is lovingly crafted and the attention to detail is particularly impressive, with nods to the game’s history peppered throughout the movie.
For me, I felt the movie does a great job capturing the spirit of the game franchise. It even takes all the classic elements of the games – the power-ups, the enemies, the mushroom-headed citizens – and weaves them into a cohesive narrative that feels like a natural extension of the world we all know and love. I think it’s in tune with what fans love about the Mario franchise and there are waves of nostalgia that hit me while I was watching the movie.
There’s a lot of humor in the film with a blend of slapstick, wordplay, and meta-references that is sure to appeal to fans of all ages. The movie uses a lot of physical comedy as well with Mario and Luigi’s bumbling attempts to navigate treacherous obstacles, as well as in the action scenes which are punctuated with moments of humor that keep the tone playful and fun.
One of the things that shined through the most with the movie is its sense of heart. Even in the midst of all the action and silliness, there’s a genuine warmth and affection for the characters that shines through. Whether it’s the goofy camaraderie between Mario, Luigi, and Donkey Kong or the tender moments between Peach and her loyal Toad, the movie always feels like it’s coming from a place of love for the franchise and its iconic characters.
The movie stars Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek, and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike. They’re all great in their roles! I know a lot of people were upset about Pratt’s Mario voice, but after watching the movie it works. A lot of fuss over nothing.
I know not everyone is going to enjoy this movie. But, if you are able to tap into that inner child of yours, you’re gonna have a blast watching it. If you go into it with a grown-up attitude looking tear it down, you’re definitely going to find stuff to complain about. But again, this movie was made for kids, and if you can watch it through the eyes of a child, you’ll enjoy it! If you see the movie with kids, you’re experience will be amplified through their experience.
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