SUPER MARIO BROS. (MOVIE - 2023)
First off big thanks go out to the ODPH for the chance to review this movie!
I’m of a certain generation, you could say the Nintendo Generation, that has grown up playing the majority of the mainline Super Mario Bros games. So going into the theater I was excited and skeptical to say the least remembering the live-action movie all those years ago.
This movie hit on all the notes it should have. Music, visuals, power-ups, characters, voice acting, easter eggs, etc etc etc. The best part is that if you are a gamer or an overly-grown-up having to take their kids to the movie, you'll find something to enjoy.
The Pros of the Bros
So many nods to the glorious olden days of the NES! Keen-eyed movie goers will see nods to obviously Punch Out, Jump Man, and Wrecking Crew. But peer further into the background of Brooklyn and you get Duck Hunt, Baseball, and other Nintendo original games from the system's first years in America and other games in the company's roster, like Star Fox and F-Zero from the SNES. For those with the keenest of eyes you'll see Nintendo Playing Cards!
The portrayal of all the various areas in the movie are stunning, to say the least. Are they 100% accurate? No, and that is perfectly ok! I’d rather have a fleshed out world instead of a side scroller.
The voice cast was solid but much like the newer games where it's almost impossible to get a 100% completion there was an actor that in fact didn't matter.
Chris Pratt, I think went back to the drawing board after the response from the initial trailer and I am thankful! Seth Rogen as DK is marvelous. Anna Taylor Joy gave the perfect amount of sass and class to Princess Peach. And let's not forget Charles Martinet who has voiced Mario in the games for 30 years! Lastly, Jack Black as Boswer was ⅓ Black, ⅓ Boswer, ¼ Jables for Tenacious D.
The power ups are not over done, they servl., e their purpose when they need to. Even the Tanooki Suit shows up and what's great is the jokes they make at its expense. Is it a bear or a raccoon? The answer is YES! The single Ice Flower just like the games when it first appeared is a rarity. Even changing the character costumes to match the power-ups wasn't overly done. DK for the first time even got FIRE FLOWER POWER, and the recolor made sense! Let's not forget the stand out character BLUE SHELL!
The Poisonous Mushrooms
Yea, we did get I reference to the Lost Levels. But I’m talking about the small number of head scratch moments:
Why the Penguin Kingdom? Seriously with 40 years of history, they could have pulled something better.
The pacing yes was a fast-paced movie but the feeling was almost frantic and discombobulated. Like the secrect path was rainbow road… just say “hey were going to take the Rainbow Road”
Lastly, it has to be Keegan-Michael Key as Toad. This was more of a play from Illumination showing off the size of their wallet. It really didn't matter who took the role over after pitching it up to fit the character you lost the fact it was Key.
I still plan on seeing it again to get more references and enjoy it with my mom. She remembers when I got my first NES and did her best to play it but always enjoyed watching the joy on my face while I played.
There is obviously a sequel hinted after the credits and who knows maybe we can get a Nintendo Movie Universe.
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