The minute it was announced that Illumination was working on an animated Super Mario Bros. feature, the question was not would it be successful, but rather how much money it would make? Turns out the answer is a lot. One of the years biggest hits to dates, The Super Mario Bros. Movies arrives on Blu-ray today.

The action-comedy finds the beloved plumbers in red and green overalls racing to save the Mushroom Kingdom and their home of Brooklyn from destruction. Branching out to start their own plumping business, brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) find it difficult to make a name for themselves. Despite throwing their money into a rap-inspired television commercial, they have only mustered up one customer call so far. Adding to the pressure is the fact that their dad (Charles Martinet) constantly questions why they would leave stable jobs to embark on such a venture.

Desperate to prove themselves, Mario and Luigi decide to take matters into their own hands when a faulty pipe threatens to flood the heart of Brooklyn. While investigating the issue, the brothers stumble upon a green pipe that transports them to another world. Unfortunately, Luigi lands in the Darklands ruled by the fearsome Bowser (Jack Black), who has just acquired a star that is considered the most powerful weapon in the universe. Filled with lava rivers, hordes of skeleton turtles and other dark magic, the place is a house of horrors for the fearful Luigi.

By contrast Mario hits the jackpot by landing in the wholesome Mushroom Kingdom, a colourful land filled with talking mushrooms, including friendly Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and ruled by a princess named Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). Worried about Bowser’s upcoming invasion, and needing every ally she can get, Princess Peach agrees to help Mario find his brother, but only after they convince a nearby tribe to provide them with some additional soldiers.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

While it is refreshing to see that saving the princess is no longer the focus of a Mario story, and that Princess Peach kicks butt in her own right, there is very little in the plot to keep the film afloat. Sailing on the cheap inflatable raft of nostalgia, The Super Mario Bros. Movie feels more like a cinematic tutorial on how to play the game than a fully realized film. Unlike other video game inspired works, take the far superior Sonic the Hedgehog for example, the film lacks character development and depth.

All of the characters can be summed up in the simplest of terms. Mario and Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) have daddy issues, Luigi is a scaredy-cat, Princess Peach is skilled in combat but doesn’t know her past, etc. The only individual with any sort of dimension to them is Bowser, who is easily the best part of the film, as he balances his lust for power and his love for Princess Peach. Even the depressed Lulamee (Juliet Jelenic), who is experiencing an existential crisis while caged in Bowser’s castle, sparks more reaction from the audience than the titular brothers.

While the film will be a tougher pill to swallow for those who have no previous attachment to the iconic Nintendo characters, the Blu-ray will delight young kids and hardcore fans alike. The disc comes with a solid number of bonus material that provide audiences with a deeper understanding of the amount of work needed to bring the film to life.

In “Leveling UP: Making the Super Mario Bros. Movie” viewers not only gain insight into the animation design work but also the slew of easter eggs that are scattered throughout the film. Another feature that is rather charming is “Leadership Lessons from Anya Taylor-Joy” in which the actress Anya Taylor-Joy teaches valuable life lessons that kids can learn from Princess Peach. Speaking of Peach, Bowser’s iconic love song “Peaches” gets its own lyric video which will no doubt be played on repeat in many households.

Again, if you are a fan of the Mario video games, or have young children in your life, then this Blu-ray is a must add to your collection. However, the film itself does not offer enough to sustain those who may not be as well-versed in the various incarnations of the video game plumbers.

Bonus Features: Getting to know the cast, Leveling UP: Making the Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Super Mario Bros. Movie Guide, “Peaches” Lyric Video, Leadership Lessons from Anya Taylor-Joy

Published by Courtney Small

The founder of Cinema Axis, Courtney is a Rotten Tomatoes approved critic who can frequently be heard discussing film as co-host of Frameline on Radio Regent. Courtney has contributed to several publications including Leonard Maltin, CBC Arts, POV Magazine, That Shelf, In the Seats, Black Girl Nerds, and Comix Asylum. He has appeared on ET Canada and Hollywood Suite's Cinema A to Z. Courtney celebrates diversity in cinema as host of the Changing Reels podcast and is a member of the Toronto Film Critics Association, the Online Film Critics Society, and the African American Film Critics Association. He is also a Golden Globes International Voter.

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