Super Mario Bros, the movie: a (finally) successful adaptation, between epic adventure and regressive trip

Video game film adaptations have long been synonymous with the worst. Fortunately, all that has changed in recent years, thanks to a new generation of respectful creators. In this softened climate, the most iconic character of the medium is finally about to (re)bound on the big screen: Mario.

Thirty years after a poor first adaptation, Nintendo’s hero has the right to a new film adventure, animated this time, which promises to delight all audiences: from the youngest to adults who have damaged their thumbs on the NES controllers or from Nintendo 64. So what is this new movie worth Super Mario Bros. ? Here is our review, guaranteed without spoilers.

The film’s story

While trying to repair an underground pipe, Mario and his brother Luigi, both plumbers, find themselves immersed in a new magical world through a mysterious conduit. But when the two brothers are separated, Mario embarks on a hectic adventure to find Luigi.

In his quest, he can count on the help of the mushroom Toad, inhabitant of the Mushroom Kingdom, and the wise advice, in terms of combat techniques, of Princess Peach, a determined warrior at the head of the Kingdom. This is how Mario manages to mobilize his own forces to complete his mission.

Our review of Super Mario Bros, the movie

As traumatized by the 1993 film (where he was played by the late Bob Hoskins), Nintendo’s plumber had not dared to attempt the adventure of the big screen until then. Decades of waiting that allowed him to see the success of recent films sonic, Detective Pikachu And Unchartedto wait for the right moment and for the public to be ready to receive a new adaptation, necessarily expected, of a monument of the 9th art.

We saw it with The Witcher or even Harry Potter, tackling an adaptation of a popular and familiar hero is a difficult exercise. To be sure of his shot, Nintendo entrusted the job to Illumination studios, creators of the successful franchises Me, ugly and mean, Minions And All on stage. Successful bet: generous, fun and jubilant, Super Mario Bros, the movie rises to the top of the ranking of the best video game cinema adaptations. Just that.

Smart, Super Mario Bros. immediately imposes its cinematographic identity and the ambition of its adaptation. Staging full of breath, neat photography, lively rhythm… The adventure is endowed with a breadth and fidelity that we did not expect. The film succeeds in transcending and giving body to the atypical universe (and a bit of a headache, let’s admit it) of the Brooklyn plumber. From the mushroom to the shell, from Toad to Donkey via Kamek, everything here is treated with a respect that makes you smile.

Screenwriter Matthew Fogel (Minions 2) and directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!) take wonderful advantage of the gigantic universe of Mario and Nintendo. The trio is having fun like crazy in this great video game sandbox, and adds an ounce of a sympathetic second degree which will be able to convince the most skeptical spectators. It will also be necessary to be attentive if you do not want to miss the multiple references: the film is a real fair for winks of all kinds.

But beyond simple regressive fan-service, Super Mario Bros. intelligently draws on the roots of its characters to deliver a story with touching themes on family, mutual aid and fraternity. Subjects which, without revolutionizing anything, give its heart to a touching film which will know how to make you laugh, jump for joy and can even – why not – tear you a little tear.

Downsides to all that: a fairly programmatic plot, sewn with white thread, and a few scenes (and songs) that miss the boat. We have also seen the film in its original version, and Chris Pratt is (still) far from convincing in the role of Mario. This is also the only false note of a vocal casting that stands out as a beautiful evidence. Special mentions to Jack Black, divine in Bowser, and to a Charlie Day born to play Luigi.

Ambitious, generous, faithful, funny… Super Mario Bros, the movie is a great success. It manages to be both fun for everyone, and a respectful adaptation that will appeal to the pickiest of fans. Entertainment with a big heart like that and to which we forgive its few faults, and which above all makes you want to put a coin back in the machine and restart a game.

Super Mario Bros, the movie is released this Wednesday, April 5 in French cinemas.

Where to see other streaming video game adaptations?

Often denigrated, video games are now the star of film and series adaptations. Netflix subscribers are thus entitled to the series resident Evil, Cyberpunk: Edge Runners, Castlevania or Arcane.

On Amazon Prime Video, the series The Last of Us is already unavoidable, when Quest Costume And future-man are programs that you may like.

Sorry for Disney + subscribers, but the streaming platform does not offer any real video game adaptation, at least for the moment.