I believe the most famous plumber in the world needs no introduction: Mario has been an icon for more than one generation; I think he can be considered a celebrity (a fictional one), and his movie is proof of why he is a Superstar.
In recent years, video game adaptations to film have sparked much discussion, with opinions divided. And in this case, there hasn't been a Super Mario movie since the strange 1993 live-action experiment.
The animated movie directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" (2023), was produced thanks to the collaboration between Illumination Entertainment and creator Shigeru Miyamoto. It’s a film made for fans of the Mario games developed by Nintendo. It’s a movie to evoke nostalgia and reignite the desire to play a Mario video game again.
This film marked a difference from recent adaptations seen in cinemas (for example: Detective Pikachu, Sonic, etc.), as most have brought those beloved video game characters into the real world. But Mario couldn’t be like the rest; he is Nintendo’s icon, as famous as Mickey Mouse.
His last live-action adaptation didn’t work for fans of the red plumber. So turning to 3D animation seems like a great decision, since modern Mario games look roughly like this.
They knew exactly how it had to look so that all the elements of Mario’s fantastical world would be instantly recognizable to the audience. And that leads me to the next point: this film is not simply an adaptation of a single video game but of an entire video game franchise. If you’ve ever played 5 or 6 Super Mario games, in one way or another, you’ll understand the thousands of references to those games.
The visual aspect of its animation is the magic and heart of the movie itself. Illumination has recreated the Mushroom Kingdom and the various biomes of the fantastic world of "Super Mario" with an impressive level of detail. The landscapes filled with floating blocks, Piranha Plants, and green pipes feel familiar to any child who has played the games. Certainly, the art direction did not skimp on saturated colors for dynamic action sequences like the race on the iconic Rainbow Road.
What’s incredible is that the fantastical world in which the movie takes place is designed so that any element seen across all the video games appears plausible, like mystery boxes that provide items from the classic games or the racing cars from Mario Kart. Everything that has appeared in the Super Mario universe can be seen on screen (not everything, but certainly the most relevant to the plot).
Regarding the narrative, the film slightly reinvents what is already known: the origin of Mario and Luigi. Two plumbers from Brooklyn struggling to keep their new business afloat are absorbed by a magical pipe and separated in this new fantastical universe. Mario must ally with Princess Peach to stop the fearsome Bowser and rescue his brother.
I must admit I had doubts about the quality of this movie knowing it would be in Illumination’s hands; their animations are excellent, but their weak point is relying on the silly humor they've used since creating the Minions. I thought that might reflect in the Toads, but fortunately, it didn’t. I suspect that was thanks to Nintendo’s influence. The humor is perfectly balanced without becoming tedious or ridiculous; simply put: it’s on point.
The movie leaves little room for deep character development, focusing more on being concise and direct, prioritizing constant stimuli over emotional pause moments. However, for its target audience, families, children, and lifelong fans, this approach works entirely in its favor, preventing the story from dragging and getting straight to the point.
The voice cast has been very well chosen. Anya Taylor-Joy presents us with a somewhat different Princess Peach than many imagined, moving away from the classic damsel-in-distress trope.
Meanwhile, Chris Pratt and Charlie Day’s performances as Mario and Luigi are acceptable. But who truly steals the show is Jack Black as Bowser; crowned by the absurdly catchy piano ballad "Peaches," I believe this is the film’s highest comedic point.
This movie could be the start of something huge. Its sequel, "Super Mario Galaxy," was recently released, and everything seems to indicate that Nintendo is building a cinematic universe based on its most famous characters. With appearances from Donkey Kong and Fox McCloud, it has been hinted that Mario’s incredible world can perfectly share the screen with other characters.
Perhaps, just perhaps, all this is leading toward the long-desired "Super Smash Bros." movie, but that is just my speculation.
"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is, in its purest essence, a roller coaster ride meant to make the viewer smile. It’s an adaptation that immensely pleases its audience because it’s packed with clever references and Easter eggs. It more than fulfills its goal: delivering a fun, family-friendly adventure and establishing the starting point for Nintendo’s cinematic future.
Rating: 90/100
