It’s becoming more and more apparent that books aren’t the only source material from which directors and screenwriters can draw quality inspiration. Though video-game to movie adaptations also isn’t anything new – despite its flaws, the live-action Resident Evil film franchise is still a personal fan favorite of mine – the recent successes that these properties have been experiencing are something worth taking notice of. People love nostalgia, being reminded of some of their favorite in-game moments, characters, and Easter eggs. And after witnessing the huge box office hits that were the Sonic The Hedgehog movies, it should come as no surprise that the blue speedster’s (un)official long-time Nintendo-centric iconic superstar rival would eventually join the fray once again.
The Super Mario Bros Movie arrived in theaters earlier this month and features standout voice acting performances from a star-studded cast including Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogan, and Fred Armisen. Transported from the streets of Brooklyn, NY to a strange new world, the brothers find themselves separated from each other with Mario landing in the Princess Peach-ruled Mushroom Kingdom and Luigi being captured in the Dark Lands, the domain of the evil Koopa King Bowser. With the assistance of Peach, loyal companion, Toad, and reckless powerhouse, Donkey Kong, Mario sets out on a mission to save his brother and put a halt to Bowser’s devious plans.
For the most part, the plot is pretty straightforward and plays out almost like a classic Mario game. Mario and his friends have to band together with the goal of rescuing one of their own. This simplicity in story structure allows the movie to focus on catering to its audience and longtime fans in one of the best ways possible: nonstop fan service. From start to finish, the film is filled with references, callbacks, and familiar musical scores that’ll have anyone geeking with excitement. By the time the equally iconic rainbow road appears on screen, those who were originally apprehensive about Mario and Luigi not having authentic Italian accents will find that detail almost trivial – a fact that’s even joked about within the first five minutes of the film’s opening. This isn’t one of those films meant to do anything extraordinary, rather it’s a visual love letter to one of Nintendo’s most noteworthy properties and its fans of all ages.
If you’re just looking for a fun time, this is definitely the movie for you. It’s cartoony and lighthearted, the characters aren’t too serious and are honestly not meant to be. If this film were to receive a sequel in the future, it would be amazing to see even more of Mario’s buddies and frenemies appear alongside the already hinted-at upcoming character – make sure you stay after the credits for this one, you won’t be able to contain the smile that appears.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
