The Super Mario Bros. (2023) Movie: 5/5 The Best Video Game Adaptation ever!
For the Uncensored!
(Note: This trailer doesn’t even do the movie justice, either)
The phrase, “best video game movie ever,” is a phrase that alludes many video game adaptations. Ever since the terrible Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo Uwe Bowel’s mastershit “Super Mario Bros” (1993) has long been a bar so low that many video game adaptations somhow manage to be as worse as they can.[1] I’m the only person who will give Karl Urban’s 2007 DOOM a pass because even then, that was still better than people give it credit for. Just focus yourself on Karl Urban and Rosemund Pike, and you’ll like the movie. The Rock does deserve credit for becoming a villain, though. But all of this comes at the conceit of having to overlook DOOM as a failed adaptation, which would lean into personal preference. As Stuart Heritage wrote in “The Last of Us: could it be the first great video game movie” stating, on March 7th, 2014, “The Last of Us is a brilliant video game. It’s beautifully put together, genuinely frightening and – most importantly – has the ability to emotionally kick you in the gut whenever it wants. It’s a masterpiece. So the news that it might be turned into a film has left me feeling a little antsy.”[2] And somehow, it was proven right. And as I am a Sony/Naughty Dogg Last of Us stan[3], not even HBO could carry a series about Joel and Ellie walking through the apocalypse to cure mankind, either, without ruining the original intent.[4]
With this digression comes a very important question. All of the above mentioned still can’t deny the best things 2023’s Super Mario Bros film does well. Because all my fears were laid to rest.
It manages to throw every story of Super Mario into this adaptation. Mario and Luigi run down the street, in 2D, while Beastie Boy’s “No Sleep till Brooklyn” plays, giving the 80’s reference a strong yet hilarious feel. There’s no conceit or anger throughout the film, as it’s aim is to be fun, and never once inspire fear beyond what the film can and intends to be. The only part that might scare kids is Bowser, because Bowser, in his quest to marry Princess Peach, with the help of Jack Black’s voice, and a fun little song, can help bring the audience closer to the film.
Probably adults, like myself, laugh at Bowser, compared to the kids, but of all this, Mario and Luigi, voiced by Chris Pratt and Charlie Day, almost make the sound of Mario and Luigi come to life as if they are jumping out of the screen, too. Anna Taylor Joy does give Princess Peach that humorous but spoiled Princess feel. It’s comparable to all the girls every guy has ever wanted to date, but when she starts falling for Mario, it all feels earned. As she starts to train him, and even those scenes are fun, too. The plot of saving Mushroom Kingdom, in its own right, as Mario has to earn Princess Peach’s trust, too, as any man should with a woman. Even fighting Donkey Kong is as joyous to see it come to life for all fans of the Nintendo franchise. And all of this leads to such a satisfying climax that it’s the film that many millennials wished they could have had with the Uwe Bowel translation. Also, we get fun little 2D moments that are as fun to watch and my shit eating grin comes back to me. They even had the tunnel song from the original game referenced in the movie, too.
Also, the context that most millennials who played the original, forcing Mario to eat Mushrooms to grow big and strong when he is eating a plate of spaghetti with mushrooms with his family, does create some context not even I was aware of. Also, when Bowsers ship, which is made of volcanic ash, not look exactly like a ship, from Super Mario 3, somehow not look the same, the intent was still as thrilling as it could be. And even Luigi ducked into a castle, which also alluded to Luigi’s Mansion, too.[5] And Mario, after his father is disappointed in him starting his own plumber business, is playing a Nintendo game to make himself feel better, is nice, too.
The key word, fun, is what makes me smile every time I think about the movie. To which no animated film since Toy Story has done, for me. With some exceptions along the way. But to consider that idea a fruitful conception is the execution of many individual parts. Even Luigi gets a character arc from being a scared plumber to helping his brother in the end, as there battle ranges from Rainbow Road with a rambunctious and joyous Mario Kart reference. Even Cranky and Diddy Kong also make an appearance, as that gave me such a thrill, too. Mario and Donkey Kong fight almost recreating the original arcade adventure, while blending in a full 3D version that was as exciting for me to watch as if I was playing it, too.[6]
It’s been a long time an animated film, other than anime, has proven that there’s still an audience for children and adults. And Nintendo and Illumination films, has proven that the video game curse can be lifted from the shoulders of many video game studios looking to adapt their IP’s into a major full bloodied animated adventure. And 2023’s Super Mario Bros, is a sign that some movies don’t need to have a message, but with some subtle themes, like family, the hero’s journey can strike a chord between both children and adults, resulting in 37 years of video games history, a benchmark in animated film adaptation.
Pros:
· Fun satisfying fun for the whole family.
· It manages to throw every story of Super Mario into this adaptation.
· Mario and Luigi, voiced by Chris Pratt and Charlie Day, almost make the sound of Mario and Luigi come to life as if they are jumping out of the screen, too.
· Anna Taylor Joy does give Princess Peach that humorous but spoiled Princess feel.
· Mario and Luigi run down the street, in 2D, while Beastie Boy’s “No Sleep till Brooklyn” plays, giving the 80’s reference a strong yet hilarious feel.
· Made me feel like a kid and smile again.
Cons:
· Also, when Bowsers ship, which is made of volcanic ash, not look exactly like a ship, from Super Mario 3, somehow not look the same, the intent was still as thrilling as it could be.
Final Analysis: 5/5
[1] I won’t drag Dennis Hopper into this, because he actually made a better Bowser than most of the 1990 film could ever do. While still being terrible of course.
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/mar/07/the-last-of-us-could-it-be-the-first-great-video-game-movie. Found 04.09.2023.
[3] I even played Last of Us part 1 remake on the Steam Deck, as it still managed to surprise and give more details than the original did.
[4] Let’s be honest here, they put an emergence hole in the Last of Us. Plus Naughty Dogg only made four out of 9 episodes true enough to the source material that even I had to say, “They had one easy job and they fucked it up.” See my original reviews to get my full perspective.
[5] I hope Nintendo gives Luigi his own film series where he hunts ghosts like he’s in Ghost Buster’s. While it’s not my favorite games, it’s nice to see a game studio take pride in such fandom.
[6] I was once a child who participated in a game tournament, where I played Donkey Kong, and had to beat the level according to time.
-Louis Bruno is the author of more than 20 books, including, The Michael Project, The Michael Project: Book 2: The Lost Children of Eve, Thy Kingdom Come, The Disintegrating Bloodline Part 2: Chaos, The Data Chase, The Disintegrating Bloodline part 3: Solvè, The Disintegrating Bloodline (and the original text re-released in 2019), Apocalypse Soldier, The Data Chase, Selection: The First Book of the Life and Death Saga, and Blinking Eyes: The Second Book of the Life and Death Saga, Hierarchy of Dwindling Sheep, The City of Sand, The God of Curiosity, To the Moon and Back, The Villain Lives and The Villain Lives: The Divided Pinpoint, Come Home, Young One, City of Sand: Book 1: The Holy Terror, and The Voices Are Alive. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Phoenix. His books can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu. He can be found on Gab, https://gab.com/thereallouistbruno, Minds https://www.minds.com/lbruno8063/. Instagram @lbrruno8063 and @louisbrunoofficialbook. Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouisBr88881650. He has written for the Intellectual Conservative and Ephemere. His newest book, The City of Sand: Book 2: Jerusalem Ignited, is out now: https://www.amazon.com/City-Sand-Book-Jerusalem-Ignited/dp/1365979660/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1G8HAWZP73ZFO&keywords=Louis+Bruno+City+of+Sand+book+2&qid=1675772880&sprefix=louis+bruno+city+of+sand+book+2%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1. And Louis Bruno’s first book of plays entitled “The Savior, the Flood, and the Beast: Three Plays” will be out April 23rd, 2023.