The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the story of an unlikely hero. Brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) serve as struggling plumbers for the city of Brooklyn. This latest venture has come under scrutiny from their other siblings and parents who question if Mario and Luigi can make it on their own. One day on the job, the two brothers get separated after being sucked into a mysterious green pipe. Luigi crashes into the Koopa Kingdom ruled by the nefarious conqueror Bowser (Jack Black), while Mario arrives in the peaceful Mushroom Kingdom. Determined to save his younger brother and the land, Mario allies himself with Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) to defeat Bowser.
What works in The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the playfulness that captures the spirit and charm of the iconic video game franchise. Writer Matthew Fogel and directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!) craft a bright animated film jam-packed with humor and references. The entire team clearly has an abundance of love for Super Mario’s catalogue leveraging the sights, sounds, and expansive character library at every turn. At the same time, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an entirely new adventure for the jumping platformer. There’s a blend of new and familiar as the creatives and voice actors put their own spin on the material. As such, The Super Mario Bros. is warm, engaging, and entertaining.
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People who have a passing interest in video games or less may not enjoy The Super Mario Bros. Movie as much as others. Previous knowledge or encounters with the Mario franchise is unnecessary to follow the central plot. That said, those who have grinded through the multitude of games on various Nintendo consoles will undoubtedly enjoy the abundance of easter eggs and get some jokes that others won’t. In terms of story, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is incredibly predictable as one might expect for a family movie squarely aimed at a younger audience. All in all, this is a movie that fans will likely appreciate more than newcome (but is still fairly accessible to a universal audience).
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a delightful, colorful adventure full of joy. With surprisingly strong vocal work (especially Black), stunning visuals, and plethora of comedy, families should consider this a very solid option for a cold winter night. Highly recommended.
Recommended if you Enjoyed: Sonic the Hedgehog, Minions
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is now available to stream on Netflix.
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