The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Image credit: DVDLand

There is often a risk in taking a much beloved franchise and turning it into a movie. Especially one that has fan circles spanning over generations. But when it works, it’s really something special. Last night, in an impromptu date night, partner and I took ourselves to the cinemas and saw The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Brothers Mario and Luigi are a pair of plumbers who have just started their own company and are struggling. When a disaster floods downtown Brooklyn, the boys rush to the rescue, only to get stuck underground and make a strange discovery. Underneath Brooklyn there is a pipe that transports the boys to another world. Unfortunately the two are separated on their journey and Mario ends up in the Mushroom Kingdom while Luigi gets captured by the evil Bowzer in the Darklands. In order save his brother, Mario must gain the help of Princess Peach to stop Bowzer and save his brother, as well as the world.

This is a very cute and enjoyable film. Mostly a fantastic bundle of easter eggs, inside jokes, and delightful references, there are also some lovely little stories about personal growth and believing in oneself that are thrown in too. While Mario’s tacked-on story about trying to gain his father’s approval and love is a little bit forced, Luigi’s story of finding courage when it’s needed most is very sweet and perfectly paced. The ‘heartfelt’ moments of the movie are defiantly not the main reason to see the picture, indeed they are pretty predicable and not entirely written in very well, but they do help to add depth to the characters and the overall story.

Shout out to the central cast, who all did really great jobs, but especially to Jack Black and Anya Taylor-Joy who really made these characters their own. Anya delivers a Princess Peach who is most certainly not some damsel in distress, indeed she rises up as a most competent animated heroine to join the ranks of some of the more modern Disney divas. And Jack Black as Bowzer is one of my favourite things to happen this month. Not only is he hilarious when he delivers his zingers, but there’s this wonderful softness and vulnerability that he brings to the character that really makes you root for him.

Image credit: Wallpaperden

The animation is wonderful. Really bright and vibrant, a literal rainbow of computer magic that actually looks a lot like the animation of the more current Mario games on the Nintendo Switch. The collaboration between Warner Bros. and Nintendo was a great move for this flick and it really delivered a fun and generationally-inclusive family film.

I would absolutely recommend The Super Mario Bros. Movie if you’re out for a afternoon treat to the cinemas. It’s heartfelt, funny, warm, and visually addictive.

Director: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic & Pierre Leduc

Cast: Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Seth Rogan, Kevin Michael Richardson, Khary Payton, Keegan-Michael Key & Jack Black