The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
Written by Matthew Fogel
Starring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Charlie Day, Seth Rogen
Rated PG
Runtime: 1 hour, 32 minutes
In theaters April 5

by Ryan Silberstein, Managing Editor, Red Herring

The “feature length commercial,” “brand extension” critique is likely approaching its fourth decade as discourse, and with the current landscape of Hollywood being what it is, it seems pointless to level that charge at any specific blockbuster. Unlike the last time there was an attempt to bring Mario and Luigi into the world of film, Nintendo was much more involved in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, with legendary Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto even credited as producer alongside the head of Illumination, Chris Meledandri. This movie is a further extension of Nintendo’s partnership with Comcast, who owns Universal and Illumination, which resulted in Super Nintendo World theme park areas opening in Japan and California, with a Florida incarnation just a few years away. However, I can report that watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie did make me want to pick up a controller and play any number of Mario games as soon as I got back home. So at least by that measure it is a success. 

Set up as an origin story for how Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) got from plumbers in Brooklyn to heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom, the set up has a surprising amount in common with the 1993 live action version. Especially in the opening sequence, easter eggs abound, referencing classic Nintendo titles like Duck Hunt, Wrecking Crew, and Kid Icarus, but none of them pull focus away from the main story. The brothers Mario are trying to start their own plumbing business, but they stumble upon a warp pipe that takes Luigi to the Dark Lands, while Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom. From there, Mario meets Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), and learns about the threat of Bowser (Jack Black), who has likely captured Luigi. From there, Peach, Mario, and Toad try to recruit Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen) and his son, Donkey (Seth Rogen) into an alliance to stop Bowser. While Peach believes Bowser is on a mission of conquest, we are shown that Bowser’s goal is to marry the princess and rule the land together. 

Quick references and background gags aside, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is not really a nostalgia play. While it does draw on Mario’s entire history, the aesthetics and tone feel closest to some of the most recent games in the series, Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario 3D World. Nor is it as meta as Teen Titans Go! To The Movies or The Lego Movie franchise (directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic were the developers of Teens Titans Go! and screenwriter Matthew Fogel wrote the second Lego movie). Yes, there are jokes for parents, but this is a relatively gentle adventure movie aimed at kids. Not only is this in line with the Mario franchise–appropriate for kids but can be enjoyed by anyone–but a sort of welcome throwback in a lot of ways. Beyond Mario’s defining characteristic in the film, he never gives up, which ties into how video games challenge you to keep going, the rest of the cast exist to show up, give a few laughs, service the story, and keep things moving. 

There are moments here and there that riff on both the 2D and 3D styles of Mario games (as well as a Mario Kart set piece), and if anything, there should have been more of those. They capture that chaotic feeling of playing one of the games while the staging makes it so your eyes can follow the characters’ forward momentum at all times. These stand out a lot more than the more typical animated action beats, and help firm up the connection between this incarnation and the source material. 

The score by Brian Tyler is excellent, nicely integrating the iconic melodies of legendary Nintendo composer Koji Kondo, as the two collaborated together to turn familiar themes into orchestral tracks using a wide variety of instrumentation. The music (and sound design) is such an integral part of what makes Mario feel like Mario, and to see that so well represented here is joyful. Another highlight is Jack Black performing improvised love ballads as Bowser. However, for a few key sequences, The Super Mario Bros. Movie stumbles by relying on the tired kiddie film staple of pop tunes tossed into the soundtrack. “I Need a Hero” (used just as poorly in Shazam: Fury of the Gods, less than a month ago), “Thunderstruck,” and “Mr. Blue Sky” are all overused and uninspired choices, and absolutely unnecessary when some of the most recognizable compositions of the last 40 years are at your disposal. 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie might not create too many new diehard fans, but it offers a fun way to get to know the world of the Mushroom Kingdom for those who struggle with performing more advanced button presses. Filled with excellent animation and vibrant colors, it was a reminder that sometimes fun is not a means but an end unto itself.