The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review by Ryan Balkwill

Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, Animation

Directed by Aaron HorvathMichael Jelenic

Produced by Chris Meledandri, Shigeru Miyamoto

Written by Matthew Fogel

Based on Mario by Nintendo

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

Music by Brian Tyler

Production companies: IlluminationNintendoUniversal Pictures

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

The plot: A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, trying to save a captured princess.

I was looking forward to this movie. 

The Super Mario Movie was better than I was expecting.

Pros: I liked the animation for this movie. I’m glad there was more depth into Princess Peach’s character in this movie. The voice cast was surprisingly good. I loved this film for its upbeat energy, and it got a lot of applause from the audience.

Cons: The pacing did feel rushed in the middle of the 3rd act. The reason for the motivation for Bowser taking over is so silly. I was expecting more like the Lego movie a bit.

Having a huge amount of filmgoers didn’t help my cinema experience much.

The Voice Casts:

  • Chris Pratt as Mario: A struggling Italian-American plumber from Brooklyn, who is accidentally transported to the world of the Mushroom Kingdom and embarks on a quest to save his brother.
  • Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach: The ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, and Mario’s guide, mentor, and love interest, who entered the world of the Mushroom Kingdom as an infant and was raised by the Toads.
  • Charlie Day as Luigi: Mario’s timid younger brother and fellow plumber, who is captured by Bowser and his army.
  • Jack Black as Bowser: The King of the Koopas, who rules the Dark Lands, steals the powerful Super Star, and plots to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom by marrying Peach.
  • Keegan-Michael Key as Toad: A Mushroom Kingdom resident whose species is also named Toad, who aspires to go on his first real adventure.
  • Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong: A powerful anthropomorphic gorilla and heir to the throne of the Jungle Kingdom.
  • Fred Armisen as King Cranky Kong: The ruler of the Jungle Kingdom, commander of the Kong Army, and Donkey Kong’s father.
  • Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike: Mario and Luigi’s former boss from the Wrecking Crew.
  • Charles Martinet as:
    • Mario and Luigi’s father
    • Giuseppe: An Italian citizen of Brooklyn who resembles Mario’s original appearance in Donkey Kong and speaks similarly to how the brothers speak in the games.
  • Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek: A Koopa sorcerer and Bowser’s advisor and informant.[7]
  • Khary Payton as the Penguin King: The ruler of the Ice Kingdom, who guards the Super Star with his people in their castle until Bowser and his army overpower them and steal the star.
  • Eric Bauza as the Toad General
  • Jessica DiCicco as Mario and Luigi’s mother
  • Rino Romano as Uncle Tony: An uncle of Mario and Luigi.
  • John DiMaggio as Uncle Arthur: An uncle of Mario and Luigi.
  • Scott Menville as the Koopa General
  • Juliet Jelenic as Lumalee: A blue Luma captured by Bowser and his army.

I recommend watching this film to anyone who loved Mario.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Ryan Balkwill:

Resident film reviewer,

Level Best Art Cafe

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