The Super Mario Bros. movie is the movie I wanted back in the 90s when the live-action movie came out!
If you're like me then your childhood was filled with listening to the DVD menu of the original Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993 on repeat while you slept and 2023's version of Super Mario Bros. not only does my childhood justice, but might be one of the best video game adaptations we've had yet!
The Super Mario Bros. Movie has so much going for it, the least of which is its incredible score that will have Mario fans who've played every game, even some of the weirder sport spinoffs, or have only just dabbled in Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. delighted to hear.
Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Seth Rogen do a phenomenal job of modernizing their iconic video game characters, but Jack Black completely steals the movie with every scene as Bowser.
The film clocks in around the hour-and-thirty-minute mark and while it does feel quick at times, it plays out an entire adnventrue in the runtime that will have you clamoring for a future spin-off or sequel.
Here are some of my initial, SPOILER-FREE, thoughts on the film and what stood out to me just in case you need more (or less) incentive to watch it:
- There are a TON of both Mario and Nintendo easter eggs and references throughout the film. You could watch the film multiple times and still not "catch 'em all" to reference Pokemon!
- Charlie Day and Keegan-Michael Key did feel at times that they were underutilized or that some of their scenes were cut, but I'm down for a Luigi's Mansion or Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker spin-off if they happen.
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie does a fantastic job of pulling concepts from multiple Mario video games to make a cohesive story.
- The film isn't a complete game-changer like The LEGO Movie or Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but shines against other video game adaptations like Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu.
- This film is perfect for Mario fans of all ages and will most likely influence you and your friends or family to play a Mario game after seeing the film.
- There are TWO end-credit scene where one is more of a joke to keep you laughing, but the other one is also a crowd-pleaser that will have you excited for future movies!
Watch my full review for The Super Mario Bros. Movie below:
I'm giving The Super Mario Bros. Movie 8.5 out of 10 mushrooms because I felt like it was the best-case scenario for a first outing with Mario and friends and it has me excited to see where Nintendo and Illumination go next with the franchise. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in theaters starting on April 5th!