REVIEW:
Here is a movie that was exactly what it should have been… a colorful, light-hearted kids movie that looks fantastic and is filled with exciting moments and lively action. This video game character turned into movie craze that continues on with this movie (and is sure to spawn a whole lot more,) really got started with Sonic the Hedgehog and then Sonic 2. Sure, video game movies have been around for ages (just look at Mortal Kombat films,) but these movies are something different. They are movies that are genuinely for kids, and yet adults can have plenty of fun with them. The humor is fine, but more importantly, the movies are fun. Sonic and Sonic 2 were both very enjoyable movies. Super Mario Brothers fits right along with those The story is just okay, involving Mario and Luigi both getting sucked into this strange new world, and then getting separated. Luigi finds himself kidnapped by the forces of King Kooba, and so Mario must go on a quest to save his brother. That quest includes recruiting Toad, Princess Peach, and even Donkey Kong. It’s hardly a spectacular story, although maybe it deserves credit for how simple and straight forward it is. What it definitely deserves credit for, however, is how great it looks. The voice actors are all solid in their parts. Especially Charlie Day as Luigi. And then there are the cool ways that it references the original game in a whole ton of ways, including areas that feel like boards and obstacles right tout of the game. The music is hit and miss with most of the 80s songs working (but bringing in the Kill Bill song is definitely a tired misfire.) Still, overall it’s a petty solid movie.