Super Mario Bros. (Film)

"This ain’t No Game"

- Tagline

Super Mario Bros. is a 2020 American Computer Animated Action-Adventure Comedy film based on the Super Mario Bros Series which is published by Nintendo and is produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The Film is directed by Phill Lord & Christopher Miller from a story by Lord & Miller with Alex Hirch, Mike Rianda, Jeff Rowe, The Hageman Brothers and Matthew Fogel Cowriting. 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, Willem Dafoe, Kevin Hart, Sarah Silverman, Josh Gad, John Cena and Gabriel Iglesias as Main Roles with many more supporting cast members. It follows 2 Brothers, Mario & Luigi, who are Plumbers working for their abusive Uncle/Boss and Cousins are they are sent to another world where they have an Adventure of a lifetime having a sense of self-discovery, self-worth and fulfilment.

The film released on March 10th 2020 in 2D and Real 3D formats in Cinemas and for Mar10 Day and also temperially released on September 13th on Netflix for Mario’s 35th-anniversary. The film received positive reviews from Critics and fans alike for it’s faithfulness to the games, the writing & performances (Both Specifically aimed at Mario), Action Sequences and Animation but some criticised it for the film’s pacing and length. The film however, initially underperformed in the Box Office from Universal’s and Nintendo's expectations due to COVID-19 which lead to mass closures for cinemas, only grossing $89 Million with a budget of $100 Million. However it gained a Cult following due to it being released on direct to streaming services such as Netflix and Peacock and being rereleased in Cinemas on September 13th 2021 for Mario’s 36th-Anniversary, the final box office result of the film is $540 Million after the cinematic rerelease, making it the highest-grossing Video Game Movie.

The movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, being the first Video Game Movie to do so along with the first video game movie being nominated for any awards, but lost both awards to Pixar’s Soul.

Synopsis
The Mario Bros live a quiet, simple yet boring and lacklustre life in New Donk City, while Luigi is somewhat content with this life, Mario strives for more in his life as he seeks for fulfilment as the Son of a Worldwide Hero, which he does many odd jobs to find his calling on life, including finding more about this weird land of Mushrooms when he was a Baby. At 30 Years Old, They work for their abusive Uncle/Boss Spike Scapelli along with their cousins (Wario & Waluigi) and in turn the rest of the workers also being mean to the Bros. One day after a mishap with a giant ape, Mario & Luigi are sent to Plumbing duty in the sewers where they find a Pipe that leads to the Mushroom Kingdom. From there, Mario (Who is prophecied to be a long wanted Hero) & Luigi (Who is having severe doubts about his self-worth and esteem due to being neglected from the prophecy) are quickly wrapped up in an Adventure of a lifetime where they must save Peach (The Ruler of this land) from Bowser (an evil, strong yet dumb Koopa) and his army (The Koopa Troop). Along the way, they meet some unlikely yet helpful allies and gruelling foes as they journey across this weird new world before it’s too late. Will this Adventure be a spring breeze? Or will the Adventure take a toll on our Heroes?

Plot
The Movie begins with a narration (done by Charles Martinet) about who and what the Super Mario Bros are, the narration states:

'”Do you know who the Super Mario Bros are? Of course you do! They’re are the most popular video game icon in the planet, starring in many Games, TV Shows, Comics, Merchandise and uh, a less than stellar movie I will say. The Super Mario Bros have struck the heart of many with their fun gameplay and with his wacky array of characters, But I will ask you this question, do you know where the Mario Bros came from, their Origins, how they became Super? Well, I know, so strap in folks as today I'll tell you the Story of the Super Mario Bros.”'

Act 1
It then shows a Stork carrying Baby Mario & Baby Luigi (who the narrator introduces) to their Parents. It then shows that the scene we’re watching was from a cauldron which is owned by Kamek, Kamek gets angry as this is the thing that’s stopping Bowser ruling the world. Kamek sends an army of Toadies to capture the 2 Bros and kill them so Bowser can rule the world. The Stork flies through the sky when the army of Toadies attack the bird, leading to both Babies and the stork falling down to a Island below. This Island is, of course, Yoshi’s Island. The 2 Babies fall into a basket of fruit, which is being carried by a Yoshi, who is collecting fruit and giving them to the Villagers in the Island, when suddenly he takes out the babies to one of the villagers, The Yoshi screams and wonders what it is.

Word got around about this weird new “fruit”, leading to a island wide panic, eventually the Yoshi Chief to call a meeting to deal with this new “fruit” We get a court scene inside a tree where the Yoshi’s wonder if the fruit is safe to eat.

Before they can go on a final judgement, Kamek and his Toadies attack the island, looking for the babies, the Yoshi Chief tells the other Yoshis to fight, while takes the Green Yoshi to tell him something, he tells Yoshi that there was a prophecy from the superstar in the Island that a Baby in red will be the saviour of the Mushroom Kingdom and that they may be a star child (a person who have unlimited power), which come once in a generation.

Yoshi tries to find the stork while the Chief distracts Kamek. Unfortunately it doesn't go very well as he’s then paralysed from the feet. Luckily, Yoshi found the stork and gave the Babies to him, flying away to his destination. The narration continues, saying during Mario’s journey he saw this wonderful land filled with giant mushrooms, Luigi was asleep at the time so he couldn’t see it. They finally make it to his destination, which is New Donk City. The Stork delivered the baby to the Bros mother (the original design of Pauline).