It’s really hard to believe that it has taken this long for Super Mario to make a big-screen comeback. The less said about the disastrous 90s live-action film the better. This time however it is in the form of animation, and by the studio behind the Despicable Me and Minions franchise. Plus with a co-production credit with the video game company Nintendo, this must surely be a match made in heaven. With the amount of talent and creatives involved in this film who know the game inside and out is remarkable and it clearly shows. This is how a video game should be adapted into a film. By honouring the legacy of the games and by introducing a new, original story for all ages and for people who may not have played the games as well. The result is a success, but sadly also a mess.
Let’s a go with the fun stuff first! The animation is second to none. The colours, vibrancy and detail in the film shine through as we are whisked away to a kingdom galaxies away from our own, which is where the film starts as Mario and Luigi are simply Plumbers from Brooklyn. The story then progresses as the brothers go on an odyssey into the strange Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach. The best part of the film is the spin on the “Save the Princess” formula, where the emphasis this time is on “Save the Brother”! That’s right, Luigi is the Plumber in distress and it is up to Mario and Peach to save him from the evil clutches of Bowser, the King of the Koopas. For everyone familiar with the games you can probably guess who these characters are, and for newcomers each character is introduced with flair, humour and a tonne of personality so you immediately fall in love with them, as well as some magnetic vocal performances from the likes of Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jack Black among others.
One of the flaws however is the pacing, as this film feels like a tube of sweets, a bag of pick ’n’ mix so to speak. It’s full of energy and sugar with a plot that feels like an adrenaline ride that just doesn’t stop. From the moment Mario enters the Mushroom Kingdom the story kicks into overdrive. There’s no room to dawdle, as we venture into the mountains, into jungles and on rainbow roads all before the big battle at the end. It is great to see all these video game characters brought to life and the filmmakers have captured the spirit of the games perfectly. I mean I really did enjoy the film, but it is a little overdone and a bit excessive in parts. There’s a lot going on on-screen as well, from floating boxes, to characters in the background doing something funny, and don’t forget there will be plenty of easter eggs for fans of the games too to pick up on. As I said, there is something for everyone. As a gamer, it was a joy to see these characters on the big screen.
The humour and the music are also points to talk about. The film has some standout moments like a nihilistic star creature in a cage in Bowser’s domain, and then there’s Bowser’s song and ode for his love of Princess Peach, with these moments the film feels wholly unique and fun. The music is a weird mix, however. It is great to hear some classic beats and themes from iconic levels of the games history, but that also balances with some pop music which fits the themes of the film but also takes you out the experience as well. They are clearly going for a Lego Movie kind of vibe with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as there are a fair few similarities in style and in structure, but it doesn’t mean you can apply the same blueprint to this sort of film as well. Plus with this film being made by the people who made Sing, The Secret Life of Pets and Minions, you can expect a lot of the same kind of animation where some characters feel almost like replicas from previous films, which doesn’t feel intentional but it is certainly noticeable.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie works on a lot of levels and children will love it and eat up every second of the film, from start to finish. As a gamer and a life-long fan of Mario and his friends, it was a joy to see a faithful rendition of them come to life on the big screen. I have a strong sense that this won’t be the last time we see these characters on the big screen, and if it isn’t hopefully they’ll learn from the few mistakes with this film and take it easy a little bit. There’s so many places these characters could explore next, and the ending even opens up possibilities similar to that of the Sonic the Hedgehog films, where the real world and the magical worlds collide. To say more would be to spoil the fun, but you get the idea. This film is simply entertaining.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Final Verdict:
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is charming, charismatic and colourful and any other superlative word beginning with “C”, because this film cares for the source material so much. As a result the characters feel ripped from the games and smoothly transitioned into the movie realm. The voice acting is spot on, the animation is gleaming and the amount of references to the games is astronomical. Sadly though there is a lot going on and that does bring the film down a peg, but this is aimed for the more younger audience and it appears to have won over fans new and old for what appears to be a successful blockbuster.
Wa-hoo!
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
Comments