‘In an insane world, it is the sane who are called crazy…’
Like pretty much everyone, I was very sceptical about the announcement that Mario was returning to the big screen. I’ve never actually seen the live-action 1993 disaster Super Mario Bros. but by all accounts, it’s one of the worst game-to-film adaptations ever. News that Chris Pratt – a shrug in human form – would be voicing Mario did nothing to appease these concerns. And yet, like hitting someone with a red shell on Mario Kart, this movie is excellent…
We begin with Mario (Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) struggling to find work as plumbers in Brooklyn. Within ten minutes, the hapless pair have discovered a portal to the Mushroom Kingdom and we are up and running. From there, we meet Toad (Eric Bauza), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Bowser (Jack Black). All the usual Mario gang (except for two notable exceptions which we will get to later). Luigi goes missing. Peach hears that Bowser is preparing to attack the Mushroom Kingdom. The place is set.
Joint directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic were previously responsible for the acclaimed animated TV show Teen Titans Go! (itself later adapted into a feature-length movie). While I can’t speak to the quality of that film, their rendering of the world of Mario here is honestly stunning. By combining elements from the platform games, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart, Horvath and Jelenic have surely won over even the most ardent Mario enthusiasts (of which I am one). Heck, even Pratt is great here, managing to set aside the Chris Pratt-ness of it all to create a new take on our favourite Italian plumber.. Crucially, The Super Mario Bros. Movie doesn’t just look great, it’s also hilarious. It is clear that the creators have a real love for the video games and the constant callbacks always feel like loving homage rather than just ‘member berries to appease the morons. This is how you do nostalgia. I will also add that every line uttered by Lumalee, presented here as a suicidal lunatic and beautifully voiced by Juliet Jelenic (daughter of Michael), is hysterical.
I loved this movie. The soundtrack is awesome. The voice cast gives it everything. The Yoshi reveal at the end is a lovely Easter egg (and an actual egg). Now, throw some Wario in for the inevitable sequel and we could have something exceptional on our hands.
It’s-a me! A very impressive video game to film adaptation in 2024!
