The Super Mario Bros.
This movie is a nostalgic trip down memory lane delivering a psychedelic dose of nostalgia. It feels like just yesterday when I powered on the Nintendo Entertainment System for the first time with my copy of Super Mario Bros. I still cannot believe it has taken this long to get this movie, a love letter, to one of the best video game franchises. It is jam-packed with easter eggs, especially if you are a Nintendo fanatic like me.
Synopsis
With help from Princess Peach, Mario prepares to square off against the all-powerful Bowser to stop his plans from conquering the world.
This movie is a nostalgic trip down memory lane delivering a psychedelic dose of nostalgia. It feels like it was just yesterday when I powered on the Nintendo Entertainment System for the first time with my copy of Super Mario Bros. I still cannot believe it has taken this long to get this movie, a love letter, to one of the best video game franchises. It is jam-packed with easter eggs, especially if you are a Nintendo fanatic like me.
Jack Black is the stand-out voice actor in this film.
He embodies Bowser perfectly and adds his Rock n Roll flair to the King of the Koopas. I can easily see an origin story film about Black’s Bowser and his rise to power. For those worried about Chris Pratt and Charlie Day’s accurate accents, there is nothing to freak about. The video game accents are super gimmicky, and the reason for not having them makes sense, especially since they are Brooklyn natives. Anya Taylor-Joy is the real-life Princess Peach, and I cannot think of anyone else that embodies the class and strength of the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom.
One of the most surprising voices was Keegan-Michael Key as Toad.
He sounds nothing like himself and did a great job being the most authentic voice from what we have heard in video games and cartoons. His scenes were hilarious and memorable, thanks to his high energy and comedic lines. Finally, we have the Kongs, Donkey Kong, voiced by Seth Rogen, and Cranky Kong, voiced by Fred Armisen. Seth is just himself voicing DK but is easy to accept due to his persona in the movie. Armisen embodies Cranky pretty well and is like a Jewish father in the film. The city of the Kongs is fantastic, and I know they have to work on a Donkey Kong feature film, which would be so much fun.
Verdict
I give The Super Mario Bros. Movie 5 out 5 stars. All generations of fans will have a blast, and I cannot wait to watch it again. I look forward to the franchise’s future and stay for two post-credit scenes. Read more Reviews on Nerdtropolis and Subscribe to our YouTube.
Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis. He is a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.