Super Mario Review

Let’s-a go! The Super Mario Bros. Movie powered up into theaters earlier this month and was a breakneck spectacle, combining forty-two years’ worth of Mario nostalgia with an exceptional cast and striking animation. The film stars Chris Pratt as the Italian plumber, followed by Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach and Jack Black as Bowser. Proving to be a film for all, Super Mario Bros officially grossed over $500 million, making it not only the biggest opening for any animated movie ever, but also the biggest opening for any video game adaptation. Despite a stellar box office, the film is split between critics and audiences, earning a rotten 58% on the Tomato score but a riveting 98% on the audience score.

The Super Mario Bros. is the epitome of short but sweet. The film clocks in at an hour and thirty-two minutes, making it relatively short in relation to the current movie scene, yet it takes pride in the audience’s time. Wasting no second of its runtime, fitting a new Easter egg and reference around every mushroom it can. The story follows Mario and Luigi, two lovable brothers living in Brooklyn, New York, as plumbers. After multiple failed attempts to get business, the brothers take to the sewers to fix a massive city leak and get the recognition they need. The brothers instead get sucked into a new strange world through a magical pipe. During the process, Mario and Luigi are separated. Luigi is sent to the Lava Kingdom, where Bowser rules, and Mario gets sent into the Mushroom Kingdom under the rule of Princess Peach. This dilemma is the premise for the film, as Mario now has to team up with Princess Peach to save his brother and the Mushroom Kingdom.

The film’s story is not new or unconventional by any means, but its booming style and commitment to its source material makes it truly special. Each scene has something new and memorable enough for any Nintendo fan to jump out of their seat in glee because they were reminded of the fondest childhood memory. And that is what makes Super Mario Bros work so well: its ability to bring out an innocence and joy that even the most demanding critic could smile at. While that is good news for Nintendo and Mario fans everywhere, it may run into a roadblock with someone who never experienced bouncing on mushrooms or stomping Koopas. Super Mario Bros is a movie for its fans, and that is admirable.

The voice cast of the film did a stellar job, staying honest to their respective characters but still spinning the voices in a unique way. Standing out was Chris Pratt, who opted for a recognizable but toned-down Italian voice instead of the high-pitched Mario voice of the games. Fans who were justly worried Mario would lose his most iconic attribute can rest easy. Super Mario Bros cradles memories of simpler times with dignity and respect. It is beautifully animated and shamelessly fun, earning nine “Mamma Mias!” out of ten.