The computer-animated action film Super Mario Bros Movie is a good addition to the movies that have derived from video games, lately.

With Sonic managing two instalments and Mortal Kombat also getting a reboot, SMB revives memories of the yore for the kids of the 90s and introduces itself big time to the current generation. Like the game, the animated flick is addictive and exciting.

The movie begins with the Koopa ruler Bowser getting his hands on the very powerful Super Star. Bowser, who travels in his flying castle, has plans to attack the Mushroom Kingdom and marry the beautiful Princess Peach. On the other hand, we are introduced to the Italian-American plumbers, the Mario brothers — Mario and Luigi. Mario is the brave one while Luigi is timid as well as clumsy. Soon after setting up their plumbing business in Brooklyn, they get magically transported, to an alternate world, through a warp pipe.

While Luigi finds himself in Dark Lands and is captured by Bowser, Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom, ruled by Princess Peach. It is after these two ‘landings’ that the scenario changes for the plumbing brothers, who transform from nobody to heroes during the rest of the film. Their journey has speedy chases, underwater struggles and sky-high action which involves another video game character Donkey King.

The voice cast consists of big names; Chris Pratt as Mario was impressive, he earned praise for his role in the Guardians of the Galaxy series and Jurassic World trilogy, and does not disappoint here. Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong was equally good while Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach and Charlie Day as Luigi could have had meatier roles. It was Jack Black as Bowser, who got the lion’s share of applause because he owned the character and made it his own.

Nintendo’s Mario video games lovers would adore the minute details in the Mushroom Kingdom, which has been there for generations, literally. Incredible detail and bright colours make it ‘believable’ for the young ones as well. The director duo of Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, who were the brains behind the Teen Titans Go series, shone with their work and have made both young and old interested in a classic video game turned into an animated flick.

Mushroom is for Mario what Spinach was to Popeye the Sailor. In the movie, he is saved on numerous occasions by mushrooms and finally manages to bring his brother back home. The film teaches you a lot of things, but nothing tops the lesson of love, friendship, and care that can get you to places.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 27th, 2023