Thirty years ago, Nintendo gambled on a Super Mario Bros movie for the first time. And while I kind of like it, to say it had damaging results to the brand was an understatement. It seemed to scare Nintendo away from allowing its IPs to other companies. And three decades later, that finally feels like it's loosening up. Because in 2023, we finally got another Super Mario Bros. Movie. My opinion? Well, I think it's as near-perfect a use of this IP as you could ask for in 2023. But let's pump out a thousand words at least to talk about what I liked and didn't like.
The movie sees the titular Mario brothers, Mario (voiced infamously by Chris Pratt) and Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day) winding up in the Mushroom Kingdom. All while Bowser (Jack Black) has recently stolen the powerful Super Star with intents on taking over the Mushroom Kingdom, but more importantly to him, winning the hand in marriage of Princess Peaca (Anya Taylor Joy). While Luigi ends up in Bowser's kingdom, Mario arrives in the Mushroom Kingdom, befriends Toad (Keegan Michael Key) and teams with Peach to fight back against Bowser with the help of the Kong kingdom, which includes Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen).
What I like about the movie off the bat is that is a total love letter to Nintendo in every generation. But the movie smartly doesn't just make itself all about pointing out the references, which are still fun to point out when you spot them. The movie is always pushing forward its plot and everything moves at just the right pace, given just the right amount of time... for the most part, but I'll get to that in a bit. What I also like is that there is clearly some inspiration from the Super Mario Bros Super Show in the structure of the plot itself. Even down to it being Mario, Toad and Peach on an adventure. If Luigi wasn't relegated to damsel, it would have felt so close to that.
Chris Pratt's Mario was one of the biggest concerns people had (well, logical concerns not clickbaity "GIRLBOSS PEACH IN PANTS" crap that schmucks tried to circle back on when they actually liked the movie), but it's actually not that bad. Going in for the Brooklyn accent over an Italian accent for the Marios was a smarter idea, again feeling in line with Super Show. Peach is also a great character in general. Written to be a total bad ass that can hold her own in any fight, in many ways more than Mario or Luigi. It reminds me a lot of the comic version of Peach from the Nintendo Power magazine days and if that was the intent, then mission accomplished, it worked great. Toad's also fun, but I do tend to forget he exists for the most part.
I also like the portrayal of Bowser and Donkey Kong. Bowser feeling like this imposing terror when in reality he's just the ultimate simp who unsurprisingly can't win Peach's affections. And Donkey Kong is a great side-foil/rival/friend of Mario and playing him up as this braggadocious show-off was a smart decision. I also really liked Luigi, and playing off his more cowardly side from the games and again Super Show was a smart move.
And that brings me to my first issue with the movie and that there's too little Luigi. For the Super Mario BROS. movie, he plays less of a role through the middle of the film and only gets the big moment at the end. I get it, and him being the damsel over this version of Peach makes perfect sense, but it just feels like he's missing in action too much for my liking. Seriously hope the sequel will remedy that. I also groaned at the licensed music. It added nothing to a movie that already had such an amazing musical score. Thankfully it wasn't wall to wall. Bowser's Peaches song was great though I liked that. And that sardonic Luma was a laugh.
I do feel there's a bit too much of the Illumination feel to the movie. Not as overbearing as they usually are with these things. They thankfully didn't Minion-ize the toads or anything, just that it's not exactly a movie that's a laugh a minute or fully strong in its plot department. It feels a lot like a movie that progresses, but feels lacking in some stuff and a bit too much in others. But, this is the first Super Mario movie for this alliance of Nintendo and Illumination. And it's clear, even with the simple end shot in the credits, that there's a lot more ideas in the tank and more to the world of the Mushroom Kingdom to explore.
Even lingering threads like Peach's origin can be built upon. As can Peach and Mario's relationship, which while it's endearing here, thankfully isn't the focus of the plot itself. Mainly in that it doesn't feel like that works with this version of Peach, and that while Mario and Peach's relationship has always been a factor of sorts to the series, it's never really been a case of that being as important as the adventure itself. So if the movies to come do continue on that, I'm thankful they didn't go too deep in this movie with it. Also, Daisy better be in the next movie, Nintendo and Universal. Like, I know Rosalina's in the pipeline since we've seen a Luma and all, but come on, GIMME THAT DAISY.
So I really liked this movie. I don't think it's perfect, and it could have fixed on a lot, especially in the Luigi department. But I also feel like it's perfect first movie for this series to begin on. That you can build on all this with a sequel and in that sequel we can give Luigi more of a spotlight. A few minor narrative quirks and too much of a dependence on licensed tracks are my only other gripes for a movie that does still offer the closest thing to the absolute Mario experience in a 90 minute movie. It's the highest grossing animated movie now and sequels and spinoffs are a given at this point. It'll be interesting to see what (and who) they add next. And I can't wait to see what's next. Preferably if Daisy's involved. The Super Mario Bros. Movie gets ***1/2
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