Greetings, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog on the art and craft of storytelling. The wife and I got a babysitter recently and went to the movies, so I wanted to take the chance to do a full review of the film we saw while it’s still fresh on my mind. The movie is, of course, The Super Mario Bros. Movie from Universal Pictures and Illumination animation. This is a film that had a ton of hype from its initial announcement in 2018, yet also an understandable amount of concern from fans, given the absolute abomination that was the 1993 film Super Mario Bros. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised on all fronts by this new direction. Moreover, audiences worldwide seem to agree, as this is the greatest financial opening weekend for any film based on a video game ever made. But does that actually make The Super Mario Bros. Movie the best video game film ever made? We’ll discuss that. I’ll talk over plot details, so be warned if you haven’t seen the movie yet. After diving into every aspect of this movie, I’ll rank each with a score out of five. Anyway, enough rambling. Let’s-a-go!
Cast
Ok, let’s start with probably the most controversial part of the movie: the voice cast. From the beginning, fans were worried that the voice of Mario from the games, Charles Martinet, wouldn’t be voicing the character in the movie. Instead, Chris Pratt would be leading the ensemble voice cast. I will admit that I was among those concerned by this but decided to go in with an open mind. Ultimately, I’m very glad I did. Pratt did an excellent job in an unenviable task, voicing a Mario that had not yet gone through the crazy adventures we’ve experienced in the games. This Mario is a blue-collar plumber from Brooklyn, and it shows in Pratt’s vocal performance. It felt odd at first, but by the end of the film, he had grown on me significantly. For this version of the character, I’m comfortable saying that Chris Pratt is Mario.
The other voice actors earned their keep admirably, as well. Charlie Day is simply loveable as Luigi, able to bring out the character’s natural cowardice while also transitioning to a more heroic voice as Luigi grows through the story. Anya Taylor-Joy is excellent as Princess Peach, and she’s probably the biggest reason I decided to give Chris Pratt a fair chance. Taylor-Joy sounds nothing like Peach in the games, lacking the high-pitched girly voice, but nobody complained about this because she sounds exactly how a modern Princess Peach in a movie, not a game, should sound. If such a different take on Peach could work, I could give Pratt a chance to earn the role of Mario. Keegan-Michael Key is fine as Toad, though not particularly memorable. He didn’t distract any scenes with an annoying or out-of-place voice and had a couple of genuinely funny moments, so I consider that a win.
As for the other roles, Seth Rogen stated ahead of time that he wouldn’t be doing a voice for Donkey Kong, and that Donkey Kong would sound like him. I wasn’t sure about this, but hearing it in the film, it worked surprisingly well. Rogen and Pratt also play off each other as rivals for much of the story, adding depth to the characters. Then, of course, we need to talk about that dastardly criminal, Jack Black. Why is he a criminal? Because he steals every scene he’s in as the voice of Bowser! The cast does a good job overall, but Black’s performance is easily the standout, even working in a hilarious singing segment for Bowser. He perfectly captures the duality of the character, being genuinely menacing in one scene and goofy in the next. This is the essence of Bowser and has been for years. Jack Black was perfectly cast for the role.
Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to mention Charles Martinet, the aforementioned voice of both Mario and Luigi from the games. He plays two roles in the movie, one of which is a citizen of Brooklyn named Giuseppe who sounds exactly like Mario in the games. But better than this, the creative team made the excellent decision to have Martinet use his normal voice to bring to life Papa Mario, father to Mario and Luigi. That’s just the perfect way to bring this iconic voice actor into the cast, even if he wouldn’t be voicing Mario himself. Not gonna lie, that realization was one of my favorite moments of all.
Overall, I felt the voice cast did the hard work to bring these characters to life, and I think it worked quite well, especially with the strength of Black’s performance.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Visuals
For any animated film, visuals are always a vital part of how memorable the film is. Illumination has honed its style over the years, and this might be its most gorgeous film yet. As anyone who’s played a game in the Mario franchise can attest, the visual depictions of the worlds Mario travels to are incredible. The Mushroom Kingdom is vivacious and welcoming, Bowser’s Dark Lands are appropriately monstrous, and the Jungle Kingdom is a perfectly lush home for Donkey Kong and his kind. Even New York feels like a perfect animation of the most famous city in the world, being equal parts vibrant and lived-in. Every scene of this film feels like it fits in perfectly with the Mario universe.
Of course, any film like this is going to include a large amount of visual Easter eggs for longtime fans of Nintendo. Subtle references to games such as Punch-Out, Kid Icarus, and Star Fox make quick appearances, as do more overt references such as Donkey Kong and Yoshi’s Island. Still, I think my favorite callback happens in the middle act of the film, which features an extended segment based on the Mario Kart franchise. When I saw that kart racing would be included in the story, my skepticism alarm started ringing. I wasn’t sure if it could be done effectively. Thankfully, the buildup to this section was good and the racing segment itself was great fun, integrating seamlessly into the story. It’s essentially an animated version of Mad Max: Fury Road, which is the only way Mario Kart could work without breaking the flow of the movie. Rainbow Road is as gorgeous as it ever was in the games, and even the infamous Blue Shell makes its dreaded appearance. This racing scene is easily the most beautiful in the entire movie.
Overall, I have little else to say. The visuals are simply incredible.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Direction
The moment this film was announced, it was no secret that Nintendo would be heavily involved in the writing and production. After all, Nintendo gave the directors full creative freedom in making 1993’s Super Mario Bros., and we know how that turned out. Thus, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto kept one hand on the wheel as the film was fleshed out. This, to me, was the right decision. It made sure that this film, for its many hallmarks of an Illumination production, remained as faithful as it could to the video game franchise so many grew up with. Miyamoto understood that he had to help Illumination earn the trust of the fans with this film. Otherwise, the risk of going off on a bad tangent was very real.
One of my big fears with this movie was how Illumination decided to modernize Peach. Yes, the decision to update her to an effective leader in the Mushroom Kingdom and not relegate her to a damsel in distress was a good decision, but I was worried they were going to take Peach’s character further than this. Strong female characters are very popular nowadays, but too much of this could cause Peach to overshadow Mario, which would’ve been very bad for the film. The training scene nearly confirmed those fears, what with Peach absolutely dominating the obstacle course and later revealing that she had aced it on her first try. This was my least favorite moment in the film because it changed Peach from a good role model for young girls to someone setting an impossibly high bar.
But just as my stomach started to churn, the moment passed, allowing Mario and Peach to set out on their journey as true partners. This is how their relationship dynamic remains through the rest of the story. Both are heroic and capable in a fight, but neither can accomplish their goals alone. In spite of my distaste for Peach acing the training course so fast, the rest of the movie modernized her character in exactly the right way, in my opinion. Whether this was Illumination’s decision or Miyamoto helping to pull the string just a little bit on her character, I approve. Job well done.
Overall, I found the direction to be good, primarily due to the focus on remaining faithful to the Mario franchise’s history.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Music
Regardless of the varying opinions on the voice cast or direction, I think we can all agree that the music for The Super Mario Bros. Movie is absolutely stellar. Composer Brian Tyler worked alongside original Mario composer, Koji Kondo, creating a fantastic orchestral film score filled with themes and motives from nearly every major game in the franchise. From retro 8-bit clips of older Mario games to sweeping orchestra flourishes of modern Mario music (love me some “Gusty Garden Galaxy!”), the soundtrack just hits every note perfectly. Tyler even goes tongue-in-cheek a few times, using “The Mario Rap” in a commercial for Mario’s plumbing business, the much-maligned “DK Rap” when Donkey Kong first appears, and even the new song “Peaches” for Jack Black’s Bowser to sing as an over-the-top ballad. Top-notch.
The one potential pitfall in the music is the use of modern pop music throughout the film. The likes of “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Thunderstruck,” “Mr. Blue Sky,” and “Take On Me” are heard in various scenes. Many viewers who otherwise loved the film felt that these songs were out of place. In particular, several have suggested that “Take On Me,” played when Mario and Peach enter Donkey Kong’s Jungle Kingdom, should have been replaced with “Welcome to the Jungle.” I can certainly see the merit in this, but other than that, I think the chosen songs were perfect for one simple reason: they’re all 80s songs. They’re meant to pay homage to the decade in which Mario was born. That, to me, makes them just what the film needed to honor the past as they move into the future of video game films. Not to mention that “Mr. Blue Sky” is a wink to the audience, having also featured in the Chris Pratt film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Overall, the music is simply perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing about it.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Story
* * * SPOILER WARNING * * *
Finally, let’s talk about the film’s plot. Admittedly, most Mario games are very thin on story. The story isn’t why people play a Mario game, creating a bit of a challenge for anyone adapting the character to film or TV. Thus, there isn’t an overly complicated or nuanced story for this film, but I don’t think there needs to be. The world-building is strong, being centered around power-ups that strengthen whoever finds them. The setup is effectively made in the opening minutes, with Bowser finding the strongest powerup of all – the Super Star. As for Mario and Luigi, the brothers are struggling upon quitting their jobs for the overbearing Spike to open their own plumbing business. Even their family mocks this decision, Papa Mario’s words being the most disheartening of all.
After a massive water main break in the streets of Brooklyn, the Mario Brothers set out to fix it and prove their plumbing skills, but a mishap draws them into an alternate dimension. Mario lands in the lush Mushroom Kingdom, but Luigi finds himself in the Dark Lands and is immediately captured by Bowser’s minions. Mario soon meets Toad, who introduces him to Princess Peach, ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. Realizing that Mario is the only other human she’s ever seen in her world, Peach tests Mario’s athletic abilities and teaches him about using power-ups. After Mario eventually proves his skill, the pair embark with Toad on a journey to the Jungle Kingdom. There, Peach tries and fails to convince the Kong army to help her defeat the looming Bowser and save Luigi, but Mario, refusing to give up, fights and defeats Donkey Kong to secure their help.
With the help of the Kongs, Mario and Peach lead an army of karts onto Rainbow Road in an attempt to ambush Bowser’s forces. Bowser, of course, has gotten wind of Peach traveling with (and possibly falling for) Mario and attacks them on Rainbow Road. Mayhem ensues, resulting in the Kong army’s capture, Peach and Toad barely escaping to the Mushroom Kingdom, and Mario and Donkey Kong being stranded in the ocean. Here, we actually get some good moments of character development, as the rivalry between Mario and DK softens when they realize they’re both out to win the approval of their fathers. Throughout all of this, we’re also shown Luigi’s imprisonment in the Dark Lands, where we learn how much Mario has protected the cowardly Luigi throughout their lives. Soon, Mario and DK figure out an escape and make it back to the Mushroom Kingdom.
There, Bowser’s full forces have arrived and the Koopa king has blackmailed Peach into marrying him to save her citizens from his wrath. This final battle sequence is intensely satisfying, with several characters making fantastic use of multiple power-ups to fight Bowser and his army. In the end, Mario has what we think will be his biggest hero moment, but that moment goes wrong and ends up bringing all sides back to Brooklyn. Now with their own home threatened, Mario gets back up after failing one too many times and Luigi finally overcomes his cowardice. The brothers come together as a team, steal Bowser’s Super Star, and defeat the Koopas. In the end, Brooklyn hails them as the Super Mario Brothers, prompting a change of heart from Papa Mario.
While this film is a bit thin on plot overall, I still think Illumination did a fine job in crafting this story. The emotional moments we do get are surprisingly touching, and every character gets their chance to shine. Peach shows her dedication to her people while also wondering about her origins as the only human in the Mushroom Kingdom. DK gets over his rivalry with Mario and proves himself a worthy successor to his father. But ultimately, this is an origin story for the Mario Brothers. That’s why the simple story works well. It’s all about the brothers, Mario and Luigi, even when they aren’t together. And when they finally do get back together, man, is it fun! This story won’t win any awards for best screenplay, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’ll have a goofy grin on your face most of the time.
Overall, this type of story is exactly what I expected from the movie and was executed maybe even a little better than I expected.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Conclusion
The Super Mario Bros. Movie may not be The Godfather, but it’s a damn fun family film with no agenda and plenty of enjoyment to go around. This is the sort of movie families have been wanting for the last several years. Fans of Mario will love the Easter eggs and callbacks. Kids will love the action scenes and visuals. Adults will enjoy relaxing to the simple, fun story, and even more so if they have siblings. This is a fantastic movie for siblings to go see together, whether they’re little kids or kids at heart. And most of all… c’mon, it’s Mario! If you do even a speck of justice to his character and franchise, which Illumination did, even non-gamers will want to come and see it. Obviously, I came at this from the perspective of a longtime Mario fan, but that’s definitely not a requirement. Sadly, this film is another example of critics bombing it for being a weak story or banal kid’s fare, but audiences disagree, almost universally praising it. I feel comfortable saying it’s the best video game film ever made. 2018’s Tomb Raider and 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog definitely give it a run for its money, but Mario has taken the crown. This is just a fun movie, plain and simple. It has something for almost everyone. Go see it, relax, and be entertained. Trust me.
Final Rating: 4.3 out of 5
And that’s going to do it for this movie review. Of course, I’d love to know your thoughts. Have you seen The Super Mario Bros. Movie? If so, did you like it? If not, do you plan to go see it? Feel free to let me know in the comments or reach out directly, especially if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!
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