Movie Review: "The Super Mario Bros"

Year of Release : 2023
Duration : 1 hour 32 Mins
 
Granted, this movie won't appeal to people who have never been fans of the games with the titular brothers. But considering that the filmmakers were tasked with making a movie that would appeal to a fan base that spans four decades and thus has a variety of tastes and expectations, they did a pretty good job, even much better than I expected.
 
There was a lot of debate about the voice actors, and for the most part, I thought they were spot on. A couple of characters were horribly miscast in my opinion, but Jack Black as Bowser and Charlie Day as Luigi in particular shine, embodying the spirit of the characters perfectly.
 
Platforming elements from the games were incorporated very efficiently into the action sequences, and some of them were quite exciting. This is certainly Illumination's most visually impressive film and a huge step up from any of their other films since the first Despicable Me.
 
As for the plot, it's simply the plot of any Mario game. And for the most part, that's all it needs to be. Every beat plays out almost exactly as you'd expect, with a few nice subversions sprinkled in.
 
The voice recordings are excellent! You can forget your reservations about Chris Pratt, because he is great in this film. Anya Taylor-Joy brings an optimistic spirit; Charlie Day is good; and Seth Rogen is good. But the best part by far was Jack Black! He stole the show. Especially when he sings a certain song! The animation was fantastic. It amazes me how realistic they can make everything look.
The relationship between Mario and Luigi is extremely pleasant to observe. They have fun together, they are happy together, and they will never let anything bad happen to them. Princess Peach is a likeable princess with a convincing personality and amusing facial expressions. She is portrayed as a sober, experienced, and slightly crazy heroine and a compassionate mentor to Mario. Anya Taylor Joy captures her character with an admirable vocal performance. Keegan Michael Key is fun as Toad with his adventurous spirit, but he is also more than that. Seth Rogen manages an effective blend of anger and humour as the voice of Donkey Kong. The tyrannical Bowser, with his menacing presence and quirky personality, both intimidated and amused me. Jack Black's deep, growly, and boisterous voice makes Bowser sound cruel. A light blue Luma star provides a mysterious and creepy presence with the gentle and innocent voice of a child and dark dialogue.
 
The animation is simply stunning and really makes you feel like you are playing a Mario game.
The vibrant colours light up the screen and bring the wondrous world of the Mushroom Kingdom to life with an abundance of detail, creating the most beautiful Mario adaptation you have ever seen!
The attention to detail that brings the game to life in this way deserves a big round of applause!
Another great highlight of the film is the musical score by Brian Tyler.
For decades, the Mario games have had some of the most iconic musical themes, and Tyler's score ties them together and gives them the true symphonic arrangement they have long deserved.
It's a full-throated, triumphant sound that energises the whole movie and had me humming along, which put another smile on my face!
 
While I think 85–90 minutes is actually the perfect length for an animated film, this film could have benefited from an additional 10–20 minutes to fill out those points a bit more. We move so quickly from scene to scene that there is never time to take a breath or delve deeper.
 
But that's my adult view. I had a pretty breezy, fun, and heartwarming time, though I'd have liked more content in the script. If you are a fan of the games and these characters, this is a must-see, so be sure to run to the nearest movie theatre on Rainbow Road.