I did not have high hopes for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Memes about Chris Pratt’s voice acting as Mario and it being created by Illumination (which is hit or miss in terms of quality) made me concerned about the caliber of the film. Surprisingly, I ended up enjoying it. With that being said, let’s-a go into the review!

   The Super Mario Bros. Movie follows brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) as they try to start their plumbing business and are subsequently thrown into the Mushroom Kingdom and the Koopa Kingdom. Mario meets Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), and they come up with a plan to stop Bowser (Jack Black) from taking over the world and rescue Luigi from the koopa’s clutches.

   The story is structured like the Mario games, with characters venturing into recognizable locations such as the “Jungle Kingdom” and “Rainbow Road.” The pacing is fast, but makes the audience feel like a kid holding the controller of their Nintendo 64 console. 

   The voice acting in this film is a bit of a mixed bag. Chris Pratt delivers a slightly tacky portrayal of Mario, switching from his normal voice to a hilariously fake Italian accent. It was hilarious but evident that he was poorly casted.

   Charlie Day is much better, portraying Mario’s frightened, but supportive, brother Luigi. He did not get a ton of screentime but shined when he was in the film. 

   Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a solid depiction of Princess Peach. She gives her character a diplomatic and powerful nature, transferring her character from the infamous damsel of the games to an absolute girlboss. Her voice is different from the games but is fitting for her character in the film. 

   The star of the show in terms of voice acting is undeniably Jack Black as Bowser. He has such an affinity for the role, being a fan of the games, and he portrays Bowser with the dramatic flair of a great animated villain. I was not expecting Bowser to sing a power ballad about Princess Peach, but it added a comical nature to this Koopa.

   The animation of the film also brings it up a notch. The beautiful landscapes of the Mushroom World make the audience feel as if they have entered the games of their childhood. It will likely become a cornerstone of Illumination’s in this regard.

   The best point of this feature is its appeal to Nintendo fans. The Super Mario Bros. Movie contains eastern eggs at every edge. A favorite of mine was the Punch-Out Pizzaria, with artwork of the Punch-Out game characters. I also enjoyed hearing the DK Rap when Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) was introduced. This nostalgia stomped out some of the film’s weaker aspects and made it a fan-favorite. Video game adaptations are often a hit or miss, but Nintendo and Illumination teamed together to create the film the fanbase wanted.

   The Super Mario Bros. Movie is flawed. The celebrity casting is a mixed bag, with some voice actors being great and some laughable. The plot is incredibly basic. It’s what you’d expect from a Mario movie made by Illumination and Nintendo. 

   Despite this, the film earns its laurels. Its gorgeous animation and appeal to children and Nintendo nerds alike makes it one of the more noteworthy video-game adaptations. If you go into The Super Mario Bros. Movie with reasonable expectations, you will find it to be enjoyable. It may not be the best animated film of the year, but it is fun to watch regardless.