Super Mario Bros 2: The Lost Levels

"Are you Up 2 it?"

- Tagline

Super Mario Bros 2: The Lost Levels (Also Known as Super Mario Bros 2) is a 2024 American Computer Animated Action-Adventure fantasy Comedy film based on the Super Mario Bros Series and the sequel to Super Mario Bros. The movie is published by Nintendo and is produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The Film is directed and written by Alex Hirch with Matthew Fogel and Jeff Rowe cowriting, the film is produced by Phill Lord & Christopher Miller with Shigeru Miyamoto and Chris Meledandri serving as executive producers. The Film stars Danny McBride as the titular role of Mario while Paul Rudd plays Luigi. The film also stars Charles Martinet, Gina Rodriguez, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Kevin Hart, Sarah Silverman, Josh Gad, John Cenaand Gabriel Iglesias, all cast members from the previous films who reprise their roles while Jack Black, Taika Waititi, Stephanie Beatriz and Eric Andrè joining the cast. The film follows Mario & Luigi after settling in the Mushroom Kingdom being thrust into a new high octane adventure in Subcon where the Bros are quickly separated and must team up with old and new allies to stop Wart (An Evil frog who rules Subcon) to merge all dimensions into one and rule them with an iron fist.

After the success of the first film both critically and financially, Both Dreamworks and Nintendo had decided to greenlit multiple sequels and a spin-off films with the first of these sequels being announced in November 2020 with animation work beginning in March 2021, with a visual style similar to Spider Man Into the Spiderverse and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Super Mario Bros 2 was scheduled for a theatrical holiday 2023 release but was delayed to April 5th 2024 in the United States & Canada and March 29th for European and Asian Countries. The film received critical acclaim for its animation, story, action scenes, visual style, voice acting, and humor, with many considering it superior to its direct predecessor. Particular praise & Acclaim was given to how it tackled themes such as death, family trauma, honour and change. Additionally the film earned $1.2 Billion in the Box Office, making it one the highest grossing films of all time and the highest grossing video game movie.

The movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature but lost to Spider-Man Beyond the Spiderverse but won Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

Synopsis
Set 3 years after the events of the first film, Mario & Luigi (who are now living their best lives after previously working for their abusive relatives in New Donk City), now are their own bosses running a successful General Engineering Company in The Mushroom Kingdom. Mario is also starting a relationship with the ruler of the land, Princess Peach to the dismay of Toadsworth and her pet dog Haru. Luigi on the other hand is raising a pet Yoshi as his own son and is trying to get with Peach's best friend, Princess Daisy (who rules Sarasaland). However, the Bros life is frequently hindered by the ruler of the Darklands, Bowser, alongside his son, Bowser Jr, his commando team the Elite Trio and his new advisor Kammy Koopa who try to capture the Princess, rule the world and to have vengeance with Mario after he brought the Koopa Kingdom down, since then they've had many altercations but after Bowser losses to Mario while the Bros are on vacation, he sets his biggest plan in motion to take Peach's Castle into space but is abruptly halted when a race of people from a banished dimension called Subcon lead by an Evil Frog named Wart, have devised a plan to merge the dimensions to reign supreme after the "red demon" stopped his first plan, while this is going on Sarasaland is under attack by Tatanga, Wart's second in command and best friend who goes to marry Princess Daisy (who is having her birthday party), The 2 Bros are quickly separated in this strange new Dimension and must work with a few unlikely allies to stop an new inter dimensional scheme that will end all worlds before it's too late.

Act 1
The film opens in a strange castle in Subcon. Tatanga tells his boss that Mario is the reason that he can’t merge the dimensions. Wart, his boss and king of Subcon, says that they can lure Mario in and kill him. Mouser calls The 8-Bits and they go to the Mushroom Kingdom using the Dream Machine. Meanwhile, Mario, Luigi and their friends go on a Vacation in Isle Delfino to get away from Bowser

Cast

 * Danny McBride as Mario Mario Jr, A Kind, optimistic, outgoing, adventurous, courageous yet unknowingly somewhat selfish, cocky, short tempered, gullible, dumb and childish plumber. When presented with a challenge Mario would try his best to overcome it yet can get frustrated easily when it’s not so straight forward, he will always look for the best in the worst of situations and will try to help people at all costs, no matter what. He also loves food, especially Spaghetti. In the Sequel, Mario would be dealing with the stress of the world changing around him and the inevitability of death but realises it’s a naturally part of life.
 * Paul Rudd as Luigi Mario, Mario’s Younger Brother who is timid, cowardly, childish (more than Mario) and has social anxiety yet would still have the same Heroic ideology as Mario. He is more of the straight man and more down to earth compared to Mario, Luigi in this film would be learning about how can’t rely on Mario all the time and needs to become his own Hero/person
 * Gina Rodriguez as Princess Peach, The ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom who isn’t that posh and fair like most people would expect but rather is more tomboyish and independent. Peach has always longed for adventure as she has been stuck in the Mushroom Kingdom all her life and know has the opportunity for that when the world is plunged into chaos with Subcon, helping Mario (her Boyfriend) to save the Mushroom Kingdom
 * Stephine Beatriz as Daisy, A Thrill-seeking Princess/ruler of Sarasalandwho dismisses her role as one and instead wants to play sport, party and go on Adventure, she is reluctant to start a relationship however to the dismay of Luigi
 * Josh Gad as Baby Yoshi, The offspring/revival of Yoshi from the previous film and serves as Mario & Luigi adoptive son
 * Kevin Hart as Captain Toad, A somewhat arrogant, self centred yet Heroic & resourceful Captain of the Toad brigade who is a musician, Toadworth’s nephew and Peach’s Number 1 supporter
 * Sarah Silverman as Toadette, Captain Toad’s wife who is a smart archeologist and is somewhat overactive, adventurous, intelligent and would help Captain Toad in his various antics despite how dumb they are or if Captain Toad doesn't want even her there.
 * John Cena as Donkey Kong The III, A dimwitted ape who is environmentalist and is obsessed with Food (especially Bananas).
 * Gabriel Iglesias as Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong’s Small Monkey best friend who is laidback, somewhat lazy and sarcastic, he also acts as the wisecracker of the group who will frequently tell jokes and break the 4th wall yet would know when not to have a joke in some instances and would be the person to talk to in the worst of situations.
 * Will Arnett as Bowser, The Main Villain of the previous Film and now teams up with Mario & Peach to save their friends and Bowser’s Kingdom, Bowser is a meathead, dumb, bafoonish, wimpy and a bit childish but is very capable, strong and knows how to get things done.
 * Michael Cera as Bowser Jr, The Nerdy 12 Year Old Heir to the throne of the Dark Kingdom and wants to impress his father due to being pressured by the entire Koopa Kingdom. He & his father are on better terms from the previous film.
 * Tress MacNeille as Kammy Koopa, Bowser’s new loyal henchwoman who is Kamek’ wife
 * Jack Black as Wart, The Main Villain of the film who is bafoonish, wimpy and childish but has an incredibly cruel side, planning to merge all worlds/dimensions to rule them all
 * Taika Waititi as Tatanga, A Purple Alien who was a resident of Sarasaland but was banished to Subcon where he was acquainted with Wart, Who promised him that Tatanga would return to Sarasaland if he helped served him
 * Eric Andre as Mouser
 * Keegan Micheal Key, Jordan Peele and Lavell Crawford as Triclyde
 * Bill Burr as Fryguy
 * Rupaul Andre Charles as Birdo
 * Allison Brie as The Sprixie Princess