[Rating: Minor Rock Fist Up]
When the world went to pot in 2020, I, like many people, purchased a Nintendo Switch. This was not only my own personal switch, but in reality, my first ever video game console. Sure, I had one for about two seconds before my parents returned it when I got too addicted to it in third grade, but this was mine. My first game on it? Mario Odyssey. So, three years later and countless plays of other classic Super Mario games, at last a film that looks more faithful to the classic plumber and his brother than any live action film wanted to be. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic) explore the hero in a quest to save the Mushroom Kingdom in a movie that is full of easter eggs, but unfortunately thin on plot. So…let’s-a-go!
Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are plumbers wanting to make it big in Brooklyn. They are accidentally transported by those famous green pipes to the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser’s World. Mario encounters the Mushroom Kingdom Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), who tells him that Princess Peach (Anya-Taylor Joy) can help Mario find Luigi who has been separated from Mario and go back to Brooklyn. However, Peach has troubles of her own as Bowser (Jack Black) is on his way to destroy the Kingdom with his army. It is up to Peach, Mario and Toad to find aid from the Jungle Kingdom’s ruled Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen) and his son Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) before it is too late.
In a nutshell, this movie’s plot is basically any Mario video game I have ever played or encountered or know if, translated for film.
The movie itself is fine. I loved the color that Illumination puts in this, because it makes the characters so vibrant that I wish there was a game based on this movie alone. The voice acting isn’t half bad with Black giving what is honestly an amazing performance. Find his live-action version of Bowser singing the “Peach” song online, it’s a blast! However, because this is nothing “new” (even the 1993 movie which as controversial as it sounds, AIN’T HALF BAD!!! But, it too has the same plot), it never really attracted me.
I loved seeing the fun backgrounds of other games. There’s something from games dating back to the 1980s that true fans will love. I personally have to remind myself that at the heart of it, Illumination, the production company behind this, Sing, and of course Minions are not on the same level as Pixar where the moves make you sit down and think. They’re made for fun and for kids.
Overall, I know this will spawn many sequels and honestly, it will be fun to see something like, Luigi’s Mansion adapted for a movie. Plus, I’m still a sucker for just sitting back and watching a cartoon to take my mind off things for a while, especially one that is so iconic and has such a large presence in the world of pop culture.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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