The new computer-animated Super Mario Bros. movie drops in North American cinemas tomorrow. Wahoo!
So, what’s the movie about?
While working underground to fix a water main, beloved Italian plumbers Mario and his brother, Luigi, are accidentally transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a new magical world, the Mushroom Kingdom. With a princess named Peach, and an anthropomorphic mushroom named Toad, Mario hunts to find his brother after they become separated, and they embark upon a quest to save the world from a ruthless fire-breathing Koopa named Bowser.
There is star-studded voice talent in the cast, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Sebastian Maniscalco as foreman Spike and Kevin Michael Richardson at Kamek. Click here for a full run down of every actor and the character each voices in the Movie.
The rumor mill says that Black steals the film. No surprise, he is an approachable man of immense talent
It has taken three decades years for Nintendo to try its hand at another Super Mario Bros. movie, after its first attempt in 1993 went down in flames. That year, Jurassic Park raked in $357 million, while the Super Mario Bros. box office only rang in $20 million against a budget of more than twice that amount. Will The Super Mario Bros Movie end 30 years of disappointing video game adaptations? I’m betting it will, with broad, casual appeal to families, gamers and the Super Mario Bros. fandom. In this post-COVID world, a bit of fantasy is just what the doctor ordered.
“Hui hew! Just what I needed!” (Mario Mario)
Now go ahead and book off time to spend 92 minutes in the Mushroom Kingdom. Betcha haven’t been there before! Adventure awaits.