The Super Mario Bros. Movies Review(2023)

Mario the plumber has been one of the favorite and iconic characters in video game history since he was first seen jumping over barrels and running between girders in the 1981 game Donkey Kong. Super Mario games have produced several iconic objects in ‘pop culture’. culture’, such as warp pipe iconography, mushroom power-ups, Mario go-kart. And 30 years ago, this game was first adapted into a ‘live action’ film, starring John Leguizamo and Bob Hoskins.

As a result the film failed miserably, as perhaps the idea was not to replicate the experience of playing the video game Mario, but to build on the original story in a different way that is built around the same name and character. After 30 years have passed, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is expected to have a faithful adaptation based on the game.

The Super Mario Bros.  Synopsis

Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), two plumbers from Brooklyn, are accidentally sucked into another world and separated. Luigi lands in the scary Dark land while Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom. In an effort to save his brother, Mario enlists the help of Princess Peach (Anna Taylor-Joy) and Toad (Keegan Michael-Key) to defeat the evil Bowser (Jack Black).

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review

Delivering the Mario Brothers Origin Story

The film provides an origin story for Mario and his brother Luigi who are seen for the first time as plumbers who started their business in the city of Brooklyn. The plot is very basic, where Mario joins the beautiful Princess Peach and the eager Toad on an adventure to keep the peaceful Mushroom Kingdom from falling to the evil Bowser. It’s a familiar storyline to anyone who has spent time playing the video game Mario Bros.

Apart from that, it is also clear that character development in the film is not a priority, maybe directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic consider that most of the people who have watched this film already know very well what each character is like. However, apart from the iconography of the iconic characters, The Super Mario Bros. Movie giving a new touch through a distinctive modern characterization.

This is very clearly seen in Princess Peach’s character, instead of being a helpless girl. Peach appears as a tough and skilled ruler in carrying out his duties. Peach incarnates as an independent and confident woman, she appears not as a subject who wants to be saved but instead acts as a protector of the Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser’s anger.

The visuals are stunning with its distinctive game style

The Super Mario Bros. Movie jump from set piece to the next with stunning animation, multiple backgrounds and elements in the Super Mario world are almost photorealistic. When Mario prepares to face Bowser, it’s basically as if they’re playing a classic Super Mario game, running through pipes and girders, grabbing mushroom power-ups and battling Bowser.

This animation also takes a lot of inspiration from other Super Mario game series such as Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart which in this film is quite clear when Mario drives a go-kart across Rainbow Road. This film made by Illumination Studios manages to combine the style of the original game with the style of Illumination itself to produce something unique. Illumination Studios previously had success creating the “Minions” franchise, which has now also developed into its own pop culture.

With dynamic actions combined with comedy and nostalgic scores and songs, such as “Holding Out For A Hero from Bonnie Taylor, A-Ha’s “Take on Me” to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck’ and The Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” Making this film very entertaining and friendly as family viewing.

The Super Mario Bros. Conclusion

The Super Mario Bros. Movie surprisingly able to provide entertainment through action sequences that apply game visuals to compelling set pieces and the results deliver epic proportions that will engage audiences with comedy, nostalgia and immersive visual splendor.