The Super Mario Bros. Movie outplayed the competition worldwide. As of this writing, it’s the highest grossing video game adaptation movie of all time. Being a fan of the franchise since its inception, I truly wanted to love this film. It would have required so little effort. Yet I exited the theater inexplicably indifferent from the experience.
How’s the story?
The narrative felt like a product manufactured by committee. Each segment of The Super Mario Bros. Movie featured different worlds to maximize potential merchandise sales. Any conflicts in the story were strategically placed to move the plot along. Character development lacked depth. As such it was difficult to actually feel for the protagonists or the villains for that matter. I suspect the reasoning behind the absence of world building was the assumption the audience knew these characters from the games. Delving into what made them tick would’ve taken away from producing scenes echoing game play. In a lot of ways, watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie reminded one of viewing a ridiculously extended video game cut scene. All that was missing was the opportunity for the audience to actually pick up a controller and play the game.
How are the special effects?
The creative team produced a captivating visual feast. They understood the assignment to reproduce the environments found in assorted Super Mario Bros. and Nintendo video games for a movie without wavering too far from the original design aesthetic. As such, all the characters, vibrant colors, and frenetic action effectively hold your attention as well as stay true to the mechanics of actual game play.
The movie has a PG rating. Can I take my kids?
Yes. If they’ve played any of the Super Mario Bros. games they’ll be familiar with the film’s level of violence and action.
Are there any ideal moments for Bathroom Breaks?
It’s a quick-paced movie. Yet, the best bet would be during Mario’s training exercises with Princess Peach.
Final thoughts
Fans of all ages will be entertained yet the story won’t have any profound lasting effect on audiences. That being said, the movie’s financial success will almost certainly guarantee a sequel. Let’s collectively hope the creative team decides to emphasize story as well as eye candy.
Overall Grade: B-
Recommended for ages 9 and up.
Pros: Super Mario Bros. Movie has breathtaking eye candy to spare. Jack Black turns in stellar voice acting work as Bowser. The Peaches song…enough said.
Cons: Chris Pratt’s portrayal of Mario is forgettable. The movie lacks heart.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie official Movie Trailer
Bowser – Peaches (Official Music Video)
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