Whether or not you grew up on Super Nintendo, 'Super Mario Bros.' is fun blast from the past

KiMi Robinson, Arizona Republic
·4 min read
8

Let’s-a go!

Put down your game controllers and strap on your overalls — “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is here.

A star-studded voice cast breathes life into a gang of beloved 40-year-old Nintendo characters in the film, in theaters beginning April 5. While paying homage to the video game franchise’s beginnings in the 1980s, “Super Mario Bros.” also gives 3D personalities to its 2D characters — foremost of whom are Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day).

With a soundtrack of ‘80s hits and a score that incorporates the games’ iconic sound effects and songs, the animated film infuses old with new. Millennial theatergoers can appreciate the nostalgia as younger audiences enjoy the high-speed action as Mario, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) race along the Rainbow Road.

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Mario and Luigi set out to prove themselves

Mario (Chris Pratt) battles a plumbing problem before getting pulled into a fantasy adventure in the animated "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."
Mario (Chris Pratt) battles a plumbing problem before getting pulled into a fantasy adventure in the animated "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

In “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” Mario and Luigi have recently set off on their own to start a plumbing business, the Super Mario Brothers, and save Brooklyn from any and all water fixture and piping issues.

Unfortunately for them, it’s quickly evident that this will be an uphill battle.

“You’re a joke, and you always will be,” Spike (Sebastian Maniscalco), foreman from their former wrecking crew, tells Mario.

They don’t even have their family’s respect. Luigi and Mario’s father calls their venture “a crazy dream” as the brothers live in their childhood bedrooms and struggle to find clients.

Bowser (voiced by Jack Black) is an evil yet sensitive villain who wants to rule the world – and get the girl – in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."
Bowser (voiced by Jack Black) is an evil yet sensitive villain who wants to rule the world – and get the girl – in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

Everyone underestimates the twin brothers, but this gives Mario something to prove.

One thing leads to another, and Brooklyn’s sewer system magically sends Mario and Luigi into different lands within the Mushroom World, where Bowser (Jack Black) is taking over the kingdoms — and has his eye on the Mushroom Kingdom and Princess Peach’s hand in marriage next.

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‘Super Mario Bros.’ is fun for all ages

Donkey Kong (voiced by Seth Rogen) is a barrel-throwing alpha male in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."
Donkey Kong (voiced by Seth Rogen) is a barrel-throwing alpha male in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

Mario soon teams up with Toad and a not-quite-damsel-in-distress Peach to both defeat whom Toad calls “the most evil, wretched creature alive” and also save Luigi from the Dark Land.

This mission has them journeying over to the Jungle Kingdom to ask Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen) for his army. Several banana peels, powerups and a slightly-too-long battle later, the gang is off to the races on the Rainbow Road.

Throughout their quest to be reunited and save the world, Luigi and Mario’s love for each other stands out as one of the strongest storylines in the plot. There are also plenty of Easter eggs to be enjoyed by gameplayers as well as humor that can be appreciated by adults — look out for a cute but misery-inducing Lumalee — and kids alike. Much credit goes to the cast for having so much fun with their characters; Charlie Day, for one, manages to infuse as much Charlie Day into Luigi as he does in any live action role.

“The Super Mario Bros.” is family-friendly movie theater catnip over the Easter weekend, and it’s sure to be an enjoyable watch for the average viewer. I’ll leave the “Mario” superfans to determine if every frame, line of dialogue and reference to the video games lives up to the hype around the film.

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Is there a post credits scene in 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'?

Yes there is. Stick around for both the mid-credits and post-credits clips after the film.

Where can I watch 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'?

On the big screen. 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' opened in movie theaters on April 5.

'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' 3.5 stars

Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★

Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★

Director: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic.

Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Kevin Michael Richardson, Sebastian Maniscalco.

Rating: PG for action and mild violence.

How to watch: In theaters Wednesday, April 5.

Reach the reporter at kimi.robinson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' review: New adventures for Nintendo stars