The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The age of video game adaptations are upon us! After big-screen takes on Sonic The Hedgehog, Mortal Kombat, and Uncharted in the past few years, it’s now Mario’s time to shine — again. 30 years after a lackluster live-action attempt, Illumination Studios (Despicable Me; The Secret Life of Pets) resurrects the iconic hero with a faithful animated reimagining.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie follows New York City sibling plumbers Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), who are struggling to make ends meet. When a magical tube appears in the NYC sewers, the brothers are transported through it to the Mushroom Kingdom. Any Mario fan knows what adventures await them in this land, and what transpires is a love letter to this franchise that loyal players of the games will adore.
Throughout the effective 92-minute running time, directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!), and screenwriter Matthew Fogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru) convey a deep respect for the video game. Every world that Mario, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) travel to in their quest to stop Bowser (Jack Black) and save Luigi from his clutches is a visual delight and allows the filmmaking team to reference specific levels of the game. Most of the time is spent on Donkey Kong Island where we’re treated to an energetic vocal performance by Seth Rogan as the great ape himself. As a fan of the video game series for nearly 20 years, these references left me smiling ear-to-ear, but the film doesn’t have much to offer besides being a loving homage.
There is decent substance in the story involving Mario and Luigi’s bond, but not enough to stand out from a crowd of recent emotionally rich animated releases like Turning Red and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. Instead, the film relies on its plentiful inside jokes and some engaging voice acting, resulting in an enjoyable enough finished product.
Pratt’s controversial casting as Mario leads to a vocal performance not as painful or obvious as it could have been. While not downright bad, his role is largely overshadowed by the rest of the talented cast. Day, Taylor-Joy, Black, and Key perfectly emulate what players love about these characters, making them a joy to follow. And their consistently funny banter compensates for the story’s general lack of emotional depth.
The film’s consistent humor is an especially pleasant surprise following the first act's arguably racist set-up. Being of Italian descent myself, Mario’s and Luigi’s family isn’t just unfunny, they’re all stereotypes, down to the “overly loving mother” and the “disapproving father.”
Fortunately, these roles are miniscule and don’t detract from the film’s overall sense of fun. The attention to detail and world design set the bar high for future video game adaptations, and a likely sequel will hopefully add more depth to these characters. This first outing in the Mushroom Kingdom is all style without much meaningful substance, but that style is a sight to behold on the big screen.
Grade: C-plus. Rated PG. Now playing at AMC River Hills 10, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., Carolina Cinemark, and Regal Biltmore Grande.
(Photo: Universal Pictures)
