After what feels like an eternity of waiting, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is finally here. So grab you buddies and pals and head on through your nearest pipe and experience Mushroom Kingdom in all of it’s rounded glory. Univeral Pictures’ and Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie is out right- Wahoo!
Synopsis
While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt) and brother Luigi (Charlie Day) are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi. With the assistance of a Mushroom Kingdom resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and some training from the strong-willed ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Mario taps into his own power.
Review
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is quite honestly a visual triumph. It still has that Illumination trademark, which isn’t a bad thing at all, but the film does an outstanding job of also separating itself from that style we’ve grown so accustom to. Compared to other Illumination projects and other animated mainstream films, The Super Mario Bros. Movie balances on this bored between hyper-realism and that cutesy style that we all love. The amount of detail is utterly ridiclous, yet it still captures the essence of Mario’s world beautifully with a high level of fidelity and respect. It’s riddled with vibrant colours, playful textures and a plethora of things to admire, whether they’re in the background or the foregound. You could even see the fibres on Mario’s hat.
Each frame is used as an opporunity to show off both skill and care. Within the first half hour it becomes obvious that this film was created by fans, and the animators waste no time in overloading the screen with small details, references, and nods. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an incredibly busy film in terms of visuals and aesthetics, there is always something happening and it makes the overall runtime feel minute. It goes by in a flash.
Akin to films like Ready Player One, there is so much to absorb outside of the central characters that one viewing simply isn’t enough to admire the scale. For those true die-hard fans, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an absolute treasure trove of goodies. Unfortunately, the focus on building Mario’s world and populating it with elements from his lengthy career of over 40 years somewhat distracts you from the story. You’re so busy searching for new details that your attention sways.
Having said that though, the actual story seems purposely simple to allow for that Easter egg hunting experience. The film primarily focuses on establishing the wonders inside Mushroom Kingdom and beyond those borders. But that’s not all. We’re also given the opportunity to spend plenty of time with the fresh interations of these beloved characters who guide us through the wonderous locations. Our attention may be on the many, many references to previous games, but the characters are equally important when it comes to bringing this vibrant world to life.
The entire cast is a dream. They really embody the spirit of their characters and maintain that level of respect to the brand while also adding their own twist on the characters. Of course, the controversy surrounding Chris Pratt’s casting will never dissipate, but he nails the role by playing into that classic image of Mario and simultaneously presenting us with something quite different. It was always going to be a bold move, but it paid off. However, Princess Peach and Bowser really stole the show. Anya Taylor-Joy’s Peach is refreshing, brave and incredibly fun. She exists outside of that territory of simply being a princess in need of rescuing and she is quick to prove that she has her own set of skills. Jack Black’s Bowser is an entirely different machine all together. He perfectly captures Bowser’s sinister nature but immediately combats it with a spin that only Jack Black could rock.
A huge round of applause is also needed for the film’s composer Brian Tyler. As a huge fan of his work, there was no doubt that he would absolutely nail this project. The music of The Super Mario Bros. Movie absolutely elevates the film and perfectly encapsulates the importance of music. Much like the various visual nods that are scattered throughout the film, Brian Tyler populates The Super Mario Bros. with both subtle and glaring references to the works of Koji Kondo. He adds his own spark but also acknowledges the deep love for the music of Mario resulting in energetic suites that add life to each new scene.
Verdict
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is just a huge barrel of fun. Filled to the brim with vibrant, highly detailed and nostalgia inducing animation, this visual marvel will have die-hard fans and newcomers alike gawking at the unravelling hilarity. Without a doubt The Super Mario Bros. Movie is one of the most visually impressive animated films we’ve seen in quite sometime. Supported by a fantastic and hugely enthusiastic cast, this film introduces us to fresh versions of these beloved characters while absolutely bombarding us with visual and audio references from Mario’s 40+ year career. In terms of rewatchability, you could watch it 5 more times and walk out with something new.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie stars Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach and Charlie Day as Luigi. The huge and hilarious cast also includes Jack Black as the villainous Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Amisen as Cranky Kony, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike.
The film is directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (collaborators on Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies) from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part).
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in cinema right now! So what are you waiting for? Let’s-a go!
