A cautionary tale for any parents taking their kids to see The Super Mario Bros Movie: DO NOT go into this movie under the impression that you WON’T jump back in time and introduce your children to the heroes that we need and most certainly deserve. We have waited many many years to see these characters get the justice they deserve from creators bringing them to life. The Super Mario Bros Movie is absolute cinematic nostalgia for adults and an animated thrill ride for kids. Welcome to the wonderful world of Nintendo. Finally, it seems like they got it right.

What is the movie about?

Well, it is pretty straight forward actually. That is probably one of the only “faults” with the movie. There is about as much of a plot as there is in the game. Honestly, it works though. The story centers around Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt; Jurassic World and The LEGO Movie franchises) and brother Luigi (Charlie Day; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) who are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world while working underground to fix a water main and “save” Brooklyn. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi. Assisted by the loyal Mushroom Kingdom resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key; The Lion King) and with some training from the strong-willed (and, human?) ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy; The Queen’s Gambit), Mario taps into his own power.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie features an extraordinary comedic cast, including Jack Black (Jumanji films) as Bowser, Seth Rogen (Neighbors franchise) as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Saturday Night Live) as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson (American Dad!, Family Guy) as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco (Green Book) as Spike, plus a special voice appearance by Charles Martinet, who has voiced the characters of Mario and Luigi in the Super Mario games for more than 30 years.

What did they get right?

In my opinion, almost everything. From the animation style, to the voice performances, and the superb musical arrangement – it all contributed to an awesome audience experience. I cannot wait to get back tot the theater with my whole family and unlock the ultimate family achievement: making a memory.

The animation style

This movie was bright and colorful, but in a muted and soft way that did not feel too flashy and overstimulating. This will be a major bonus for parents nervous to bring their kids to a big screen movie where the potential for stimulation overload in public is a risk. It was easy on the eyes and fun to watch. 

The voice performances

I know that people are curious and nervous over the casting choices, but I have to say that the lack of Italian “accents” (that were always a bit TOO over the top and stereotypical for me) are addressed early on and I felt was handled wonderfully. It actually added to the characters that they were just normal guys from Brooklyn trying to make their way in business in any way they could. The voice acting overall was well done and very rarely did I even have a moment of realizing who the voices were despite how recognizable the actors behind the characters are. Jack Black was a stand out in that regard. His voice is so unique, but only occasionally did it stand out separate from the character Bowser. Chris Pratt did a great job as Mario, and I know that there have been people who were understandably nervous. All of the cast work giving voices to the characters that we all know and still felt authentic and not forced in any way that took anything from the job at hand: defeating Bowser.

The musical arrangement

I could not stop smiling while watching the movie. It felt like an absolute thrill ride that was driven by the ultimate soundtrack of my youth. From the 80’s power ballads perfectly placed throughout the film to the flashback inducing twinkle of the piano keys as you remember grabbing up all of the coins… the iconic music cannot be unsung. It was subtle most of the time, but when those tunes from the games surfaced I found myself smiling every time. I will say that the original Bowser song he composes on a piano (stay for the mid-credit scene for the extended cut) was hilarious and very Jack Black-esque in all the best ways!

The animation

I always get a little cautious seeing animated films in the theater because there’s a tendency for them to lean into how bright they can be. It sometimes feels like it can be a bit of sensory overload. Not only was this movie, extremely bright and colorful, it was animated in a way that did not feel flashy or overwhelming, which I think a lot of parents will really appreciate.

The voices

I know that people were nervous online in advance of the movie opening about the lack of accents, Italian accent with Mario and Luigi, but not only did it feel natural for them not to have accents, it is addressed early on, and when they move forward, everything feels Natural. The entire cast is fantastic, and each brought something to the role that made you think of them as the character, and not as the actor that you already associate in real life. There were only a few moments when Bowser‘s voice for me really even reminded me that he was Jack Black. And to be honest those moments for when he was singing and they were an absolute joy and no one could’ve done it as good as Jack Black does. A stand out character the was the sweet little maudlin flame guy Lumalee from Super Mario Galaxy. He absolutely made you laugh out loud every single time his character appeared on the screen. What a scene stealer! Grab any merchandise you can for him now because your kids will certainly want it. 

What should parents know?

The only thing I would caution parents to remember when taking their kids to see this film is that if they can take a moment to put themselves back in the shoes of their childhood selves. Remember how intensely scary Bowser’s castle could be, Dry Bones when they suddenly reanimated, and even the occasional underwater creature (Maw-Ray the Eel in Super Mario 64?!) that could pop up and scare you? Sometimes we forget that those things were all certainly designed back then to create tension, and for little ones they create tension now. There are even a few scenes early on with characters in the forest that come off a little past creepy and more slightly scary. Of course, not every kid is going to find this intense or scary, but you know your children and it is something to consider if you have a child under the age of six for sure. One other caution for parents is that there is a lot of fire and lava involving the Bowser character. If your child has a fear of lava or fire, definitely consider whether or not the big screen is going to be a place to experience some harrowing action scenarios involving those elements.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie – Only In Theaters April 5

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Looking for a movie to see this weekend in theaters without the kids? Check out Shazam! Fury of the Gods

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