Warning: This article may contain spoilers.
“It’s-a-me, _____!”
I think you could guess whose catchphrase this is.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie recently debuted in theaters on April 5th, 2023. Celebrating one of the most iconic and beloved video game franchises of all time, it reimagines the 1993 live adaptation into a 3D animated adventure featuring brothers Mario and Luigi, the former of which must save his brother and stop the villain Bowser from realizing his dreams of marrying Princess Peach and conquering every kingdom in the Mario universe. Recruiting the help of the princess herself, Mario transforms from a lowly plumber in Brooklyn, New York to a hero-in-training.
One of the most notable aspects of the movie is definitely its star-studded cast. Chris Pratt brings his trademark humor to the role of Mario—although I would’ve appreciated it more if they instead hired a voice actor with an actual Italian accent—while Anya Taylor-Joy brings a regal presence to Princess Peach. Jack Black is a scene-stealer as Bowser, delivering some of the movie's funniest moments and one song that won’t leave my head.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the appearance of iconic elements from the video game, like the blocky-sounding theme song, boxes of mystery power-ups, and—my personal favorite—the Rainbow Road that allows viewers to relive their Mario Kart days.
Speaking of viewing, this movie is best seen at a theater—as it would for any other movie. However, what distinguishes The Super Mario Bros. from others is how visually stunning it is on the big screen. Everything from the character to the background graphics was vibrant, detailed, and colorful, making their evolution from mere pixels all the more impressive.
The visual graphics, I would say, are a better aspect of the movie than the plot. One thing I truly liked about the movie was how they emphasized Princess Peach’s roles of being a courageous ruler for her toads and hero alongside Mario over being a “damsel in distress” as portrayed in the video game. However, I felt that the plot was very predictable at times and that the movie was generally more focused on adding humorous dialogue rather than progressing the plot in a timely manner, leaving some parts feeling too rushed.
Yet, despite these comments and outside criticism the movie received, the box office numbers for the movie continue to skyrocket with the movie having grossed roughly one billion dollars and counting. Clearly, critics haven’t stopped moviegoers from watching this new animated classic.
Ultimately, I rate the movie an 8/10, with two points deducted because of some predictable plot points. However, for me, these are heavily outweighed by the stunning visuals, nostalgia, and lightheartedness that make it worth the watch.
For fans of the Mario franchise, frequent moviegoers, or just about anyone, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is one that just can’t be missed.
