Courtesy of Illumination
By Jeffrey Caicedo, Sol Casanas and Alfi Storrs
Thirty years after the release of the live-action flop “Super Mario Bros.” the plumber brothers have returned to theatres in triumphant style. Given the rather hit-or-miss nature of films based off of video games, some trepidation was not unfounded going into the release of this year’s adventure. But, as it turns out, moviegoers needn’t worry.
As one would think, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is not meant to be taken seriously, being targeted towards kids, but it is overflowing with nostalgic references that will make even the most die-hard fans of the gaming franchise jump for joy. The plot itself is rather straightforward in style; Mario saves the day by defeating the villainous Bowser. It’s certainly not an unfamiliar story to anyone who’s so much as heard of the white-gloved plumber. But what really makes the movie shine is its visual style. Illumination (“Despicable Me,” “Sing”) brought the world of the Mushroom Kingdom to vibrant silver screen life with a distinctive flair that remained a visual treat throughout the entire hour and a half runtime.
We follow Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) on an epic adventure as they embark on a journey from the streets of Brooklyn to the magical world of the Mario series. These two brothers, who run an independent plumbing business, struggle to make ends meet as their luck seems to be working against them. Despite being the laughingstock of their neighborhood and family, they refuse to give up. In a desperate attempt to prove themselves, they set out to fix a catastrophic water main break — only to be unexpectedly transported through a mysterious green pipe.
Immediately, Mario and Luigi are separated as they flume through the pipes. Mario finds himself in the breathtaking Mushroom Kingdom, surrounded by adorable mushroom-headed creatures known as Toads. But Luigi’s fate is less fortunate as he is taken captive by the evil Bowser (Jack Black), who has his eyes set on marrying Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and taking over the world. Mario and Peach team up on a quest to gather the powerful Kong army and defeat Bowser, rescuing Luigi along the way. The “Mario Kart” game concepts are showcased heavily in the movie; the way they pick their karts is exactly like the games, and they even feature the Rainbow Road.
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is a great starting point for what could be an amazing film franchise. The movie has beautiful visuals and non-stop fun for those who are Mario fans but also a fun experience for the whole family. Considering that the first Mario series games released in the 1980s, the inclusion of a handful of songs from the same decade surely caught the attention of parents as well.
This film was undoubtedly full of references and gags that would make any long-time Nintendo fan grin. What it lacks in a strong and original plot, it makes up for with phenomenally-arranged music and a surprising amount of character from its main cast. Mario and Luigi’s bond as brothers was stronger than ever, and Princess Peach herself was far from a damsel in distress. Jack Black’s performance as Bowser undoubtedly stole the show, but the rest of the voice cast wasn’t slouching off either. Given the collective skepticism voiced online in the wake of cast announcements in September 2021, those same cynics can breathe a sigh of relief.
