THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (2023)

They’ve done it, it’s finally happened. A video game movie that isn’t garbage and makes me scream out in anger. It wasn’t a hard bar to overcome with Sonic and Detective Pikachu being number 1 and 2 on that list, but when you’re competing with the original Super Mario Bros movie starring Bob Hoskins and the disaster that was Doom it wasn’t going to be difficult to beat.

This star studded cast is certainly a drawing point, but I don’t think they needed it. My main criticisms are that they would’ve spent millions and millions on the cast, when the perfect people to voice these characters are presumably locked up in a basement somewhere in Nintendo’s headquarters. Why not just use the voice actors from the games, using the voices we already associate with Mario, Peach and Donkey Kong and not worry about Charlie Day, Chris Pratt or Seth Rogan ruin your favourite characters.

But there is always an exception to the rule, and in this case it’s Jack Black. A man with a thousand voices, he was magnificent as a love sick Bowser vying for Princess Peaches love and affection. He larger than life personality came through that character and his incredible comedic timing and singing ability delighted everyone. The song Peaches is still stuck in my head and it’s been months since I’ve seen the film. I’m not even mad about it because The Super Mario Brothers Movie is spectacular.

The Easter Eggs were great for that die hard gaming fans, and the only criticism the film has gotten is from people who aren’t the target audience for the film. It’s a kids movie after all and this film has been in theatres for months and months because so many kids are brutally bullying their parents into taking them time and time again. The bright colours, the remixed Nintendo music and sounds, the designs of Mario Kart tracks, to Donkey Kong’s Jungle were incredible and I can’t wait until the sequel.

Rating: 🍿🍿🍿🍿