Summer 2023 Edition

The highly anticipated “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” was released on April 5, 2023, to wide theatrical success. The film depicts the beloved video game characters Mario and Luigi in an action-packed animated film. Mario and Luigi are plumber brothers who are struggling to start their own business when they get sucked into the Mushroom Kingdom, where they are separated, forcing Mario to begin a journey in a strange world in order to find his brother.
This movie was engaging and fun to watch. With a run time of an hour and half, it was a fairly simple movie with a fast-paced plot. The bright and colorful animation style was reminiscent of the games the movie is based on. While the casting of the movie was a brief point of controversy when it was first announced, all of the voice actors had amazing performances, especially Jack Black’s depiction of Bowser and Seth Rogen’s depiction of Donkey Kong. The movie was extremely action-packed, and included a lot of easter eggs alluding to past “Super Mario” games, which made it more enjoyable for die-hard fans without alienating those not as familiar with the source material. Having the brothers live in Brooklyn was an interesting choice, but I think it worked to add a bit more dimension to the film.
This film had the massive responsibility of adapting many iconic and beloved characters in a way which flattered their original personalities while also fitting the film itself. In a typical Mario game, Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach, and Mario travels through many obstacles to save her. In this adaptation, Bowser is hopelessly in love with Peach, and rather than kidnapping, plans on asking for her hand in marriage. This dynamic is played to hilarious effect, and I appreciated the difference from the original format of the game, which I believe is kind of an overdone trope in film. Rather than Peach, Luigi plays the damsel of this film, and effectively does nothing for the majority of the movie. Luigi’s character was kind of overused, and I wish he had been more prominent in the story and had been given a greater role in the action, as he is a vital part of the “Super Mario” franchise.
Surprisingly, the part of the film which I enjoyed the most was the rivalry turned friendship between Donkey Kong and Mario. This relationship was pretty thoroughly fleshed out compared to other interactions in the film, and it was really enjoyable to watch these two characters work together. Other than that, the movie followed the typical storylines and dynamics of a children’s film–the main character learns to gain confidence in himself, overcomes the obstacles, and saves the day. While simple, this storyline works, and helped the movie serve its true purpose, which was mostly for fans to be able to see their favorite characters depicted in an energetic and entertaining movie.
Overall, this is a great option if you are looking for something quick to put on that’s easy to watch. While obviously not a cinematic masterpiece, it’s great for what it is, a lively and nostalgic piece of media.