When it comes to videogames, there have been titles to define the medium; but perhaps no game has defined the concept of gaming more than Super Mario Bros. The story of Mario and Luigi is legendary as their adventures through the Mushroom Kingdom have shaped gamers throughout the years and continue to pioneer gaming even to this day. When it comes to other media, the Mario Bros have had shares of adaptations which includes a live action film that debuted in 1993. However, the movie was not received well both financially or critically and this caused Nintendo to be hesitant in making another film. Yet the idea of bringing the games to big screen was still important to Nintendo and the company to talk various studios to bring the series to life. There was a point where Nintendo negotiated with Sony to make an animated film on the plumbers with Genndy Tartovsky in talks to work on the project; but those plans fell through, and Nintendo would continue their search for the right studio. However, the search would not be long as in 2016 Nintendo would begin discussions with none other than Illumination Entertainment. The studio behind Despicable Me took up the project and at long last the video game series would make a cinematic return in The Super Mario Bros Movie.

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenie, the new movie serves as an origin story where Mario (Chris Pratt) travels to the Mushroom Kingdom to find Luigi (Charlie Day) and help Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) stop Bowser (Jack Black) from taking over the world. Along with being an origin story, the movie aimed to change things up by implementing elements like having Luigi in danger oppose to Peach. Regardless of these changes, this new movie had a tall order to fill as it not only had to bring the iconic video game to the big screen but possibly establish Nintendo as a new film franchise. Growing up with this series, this new movie was a must see for me and everything that I saw on the film only added to my hype for the videogame film. So, after taking a warp pipe to the theater I can say that while it may not have been a groundbreaking experience The Super Mario Bros Movie was still a great take on the videogame series.

Being a new start for the Mario Bros, one the main priorities of this animated film was reestablishing the videogame series to moviegoers and the movie a fair job with that direction. When it came to the storytelling this plot was simplistic which ended a double edge sword for the movie. While the plot was easy enough to get into, its structure was rather basic, and the pacing was too quick for its good. Aside from a few issues, the story was a fun adventure. The world that the plot sets up was a vast one that could easily be expanded upon. Furthermore, the narrative direction of continually trying was a good theme for the plot and it worked for Mario’s character. So, while this adventure had some bumps, it has some power to it and worked for videogame series.

Just like the story, it was important for the movie to get the characters right and for the most part it did. While the development needed some work, the cast had plenty of character to them to make them an enjoyable ensemble. When it came to the title character, Chris Pratt was genuine as Mario. Between his never say die attitude and Pratt’s grounded performance, this take on Mario was a fair rendition of the videogame icon. As for his brother, Charlie Day was enjoyable as Luigi though I wished the movie did a little more with his character. As for the rest of the principal cast, Anya Taylor Joy brought some flair to Princess Peach while Keegan Michael-Key was enjoyable as Toad. A surprising addition to the cast was Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong whose portrayal of the videogame icon was surprisingly impressive. Yet if there was one performance that stole show it was Jack Black as Bowser. Block’s boundless charisma gave the iconic villain both the energy and depth to stand out and rounded out this impressive videogame cast.

Going into the film, I expected The Super Mario Bros Movie to be an animation marvel, and it did not disappoint. While keeping true to Illumination’s vibrant style the movie also captured the classic look of the games and this combination created a distinct look for the movie. Equally as impressive was the music by Brian Tyler. The score was a love letter to the games as it brought an array of themes that created a fantastic soundtrack for the movie; although the film’s use of hit songs was a little daunting.

The Super Mario Bros Movie was a true homage to the game series. While its quick execution hindered some of the film’s presentation, there was no denying that this adaptation had the right power ups as evident in its cast and animation. The movie not only proved that the series belongs on the big screen but showed that both Nintendo and Illumination have something special on their hands as this movie could easily become a major franchise for both parties. Regardless of what may happen next, The Super Mario Bros Movie was indeed an enjoyable experience as it was much a solid rendition as it was a great film for the season.