A power-up adventure with The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Mario brothers have officially hopped, skipped, and stomped their way from the pixelated screens of the ’80s into a vibrant, fast-paced film. The Super Mario Bros. Movie delivers a thrilling, kid-friendly adventure packed with clever callbacks to the franchise’s iconic games. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic steer the story, keeping the pace brisk and the mood light, while injecting enough references to make the longtime fans smile with glee.
The plot is pretty straightforward — Mario and Luigi, our favorite plumbing duo, get whisked away to the Mushroom Kingdom where they encounter Princess Peach, Bowser, Toad, and a host of other familiar faces. Sure, it’s not groundbreaking storytelling, but that’s hardly the point. The narrative serves as an excellent canvas for the movie’s real highlight: the sheer joy of watching beloved characters come to life in a gloriously animated world that feels plucked straight from a Nintendo console.
Visually, this movie is a feast. The colors pop, and the animation is stunningly smooth, making every Koopa shell, warp pipe, and Goomba feel both familiar and refreshingly new. It’s clear that Illumination Entertainment put a lot of care into capturing the spirit of the games. From Mario’s iconic triple jumps to Bowser’s fire-breathing fury, the action sequences are as lively and chaotic as you’d expect, punctuated with a soundtrack that riffs on those memorable video game melodies. However, there are moments when the action feels a bit too frantic — like they tried to cram every power-up and level into a single movie. But hey, with the kind of energy this movie exudes, it’s hard not to get swept up in the whirlwind of fun.
The voice cast, led by Chris Pratt as Mario and Charlie Day as Luigi, does an admirable job. There was skepticism about Pratt’s casting, but he brings a down-to-earth charm to Mario that works surprisingly well. Jack Black steals the show as Bowser, giving the iconic villain a blend of menace and hilarity that’s just irresistible. Anya Taylor-Joy’s Peach is fierce and independent, a refreshing take on a character often relegated to damsel-in-distress status in the games.
While The Super Mario Bros. Movie isn’t without its flaws — a few corny jokes here, an overly simplistic plot there — it largely succeeds in what it sets out to do: provide a thrilling, family-friendly experience that pays homage to the beloved franchise. It’s a film made with clear affection for its source material, and it shines through in every frame. Whether you’re a lifelong Mario fan or a newcomer to the kingdom, this movie offers a warp pipe straight to an hour and a half of pure fun.
