The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) Movie Review

Synopsis:

Brooklyn plumbers and brothers, Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), both fall into a mysterious pipe. They both venture into two different worlds. Mario must now find a way to rescue Luigi from the King of the Koopas, Bowser (voiced by Jack Black).

Review:

Since the introduction of Super Mario Bros. (1985), Mario has continued to please fans around the globe.

Mario is a character that has had simplistic 2D side-scrolling adventures to galaxy-scale ones.

With this in mind, Illumination Studios decided to bring Mario to animated movie form.

What is evident from the outset is the care and attention to detail put into the Mario universe. There are many references that fans will appreciate.

These include the Rainbow Bridge, the Mushroom Kingdom, and power-ups for Mario.

These are all brought to life through vivid and colorful animation. As a result, the movie has many standout sequences.

This film’s action is also good, alongside a catchy soundtrack that fans will take notice of.

As a whole, this film’s animation is a definite highlight. Despite this, the film relies too much on fan service over a coherent narrative.

Although fan service is welcome, each one should serve a purpose.

Also, many jokes in The Super Mario Bros. movie aren’t funny, and some children may not even find them entertaining.

Voice acting can also be a point of contention, such as with Chris Pratt’s Mario or Anya Taylor-Joy’s Princess Peach.

Every time Mario speaks, for example, all audiences will be able to hear is Chris Pratt’s normal voice.

If his accent from the games was present, it would have made it more authentic.

Anya Taylor-Joy gives Princess Peach a calming tone. Despite this, Anya lacks a sense of conviction with her voice acting.

Other voice talents include Charlie Day as Luigi and Seth Rogen voicing Donkey Kong.

Seth Rogen’s DK provides most of the film’s humor, which gets degrading over time.

One voice performance that stands out compared to the others is Jack Black’s Bowser. As expected, he brings the utmost dedication to this role.

While Bowser’s motivation in the film is childish, Jack remains committed to making the role his own.

As with other characters, Bowser is well-animated. He is also given an imposing presence upon his introduction.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, The Super Mario Bros. Movie provides several fan-pleasing moments.

These include its standout animation, good action, and a catchy soundtrack.

Jack Black’s vocal performance as Bowser is also good. As a result, he provides this film with many entertaining moments.

A problem with this film, though, is that it dedicates itself so much to fan service. This makes its plot seem secondary.

Humor can also take away from proceedings, as most of it fails to evoke any form of laughter.

Voice acting, aside from Jack’s Bowser, can also falter due to a lack of conviction or miscasting.

Despite these flaws, The Super Mario Bros. Movie should entertain Mario enthusiasts or families with children.

Sam’s Action Reaction score:

Characters - 6/10

Story - 5.5/10

Action - 7/10

Visuals and animation - 8/10

Soundtrack - 7/10

Overall score: 6.7 out of 10