The highly anticipated “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” arrived in theaters on April 5. The release was met with both praise and criticism by fans of the video game franchise.
Produced by Illumination Entertainment in partnership with Nintendo, the movie features impressive animation and creative elements. The bright and vibrant colors, along with the creative scenery bring the film to life. The best aspect of the film is the attention to detail that went into the design and animation process.
Many fans were disappointed at the extremely simple narrative of the film. The plot was very vague, which left older viewers and adults with questions. However, the simple narrative allows the film to be a perfect fit for children.
The new Mario movie follows Brooklyn native Mario, voiced by Chris Pratt, on his journey to rescue his brother Luigi, voiced by Charlie Day. The narrative strays from the nostalgic plot line of the video game franchise. In this film, Luigi was kidnapped and held captive by evil Bowser, voiced by Jack Black.
Mario, with the help of Princess Peach and other familiar characters from the video game franchise, set out to rescue Luigi and protect the Mushroom kingdom from Bowser’s terror.
Bowser, blinded with love for Princess Peach, plans to use the gold star to impress Princess Peach and win her hand in marriage.
The central conflict of the movie is fueled by evil Bowser’s love. Bowser is threatened by the presence of Mario and will do anything in his power to keep him away from Princess Peach.
Each voice actor did an excellent job of bringing their own unique take on the characters. Most notably, Black’s rendition of Bowser brought energy and humor to the film. Bowser’s love song to Princess Peach has taken over the internet thanks to the incredible energy brought to the table by Black.
The film features many characters from the celebrated video game franchise, including classic enemies and heroes.
Additional elements of the franchise, such as power-ups, karts, racing tracks, fighting arenas, and obstacle courses allow the nostalgic aspects of the franchise to shine through.
Many aspects of the film were heavily criticized. The selection of Pratt as the voice of Mario was debated among fans and critics. Many argued that his rendition was not the best fit for the film. Pratt’s voice acting strays far from Mario’s iconic and notorious accent, one of his most beloved character traits.
Luigi was, in many ways, completely robbed of character. He relies on Mario heavily, needing to be saved from Bowser’s captivity. Luigi’s character was given little opportunity to develop throughout the film, nor did he add much more to the plot than being Mario’s motivation to defeat Bowser.
Many critics were disappointed that the film highlighted Mario and Peach, as opposed to Mario and Luigi. The title, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” presents the idea of a brotherly plot at the narrative core, which was not what was presented in the film.
Overall, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is a satisfactory movie. I believe that it is important to keep in mind the target audience of the film: children and families.
The film successfully appeals to its target audience as a light-hearted, fun, and family-friendly flick. The incredible animation allows the movie to be engaging for viewers of all ages, regardless of the simple narrative.
Cleia Stern
Cleia Stern is a first-year pursuing an undergraduate in Exploratory Studies. She is a staff writer for the Eagle Eye. Cleia holds the 2022 GOODE Waterski National Overall Champion title, as well as multiple regional and state titles. Cleia’s passions include water-skiing, tennis, and weightlifting. Aside from her athletic achievements, Cleia hopes to pursue writing into the professional setting with dreams of publishing a collection of poems.
