Is it still Star Power Strong? - Super Mario Bros. Movie

Nostalgia. It's a hell of a drug. One so powerful and moving that it can throw the mind back in time, sooth away everyday woes, and even turn the coldest of hearts into bright, beaming shine-sprites. However, for as much as it delivers on that sweet, sought-after euphoria we all know and love, it can also leave us blind to obvious (sometimes even problematic) truths we’re too doped up to notice. So one has to wonder, when the jumpman titan of the Nintendo dynasty yipped and yahooed across the silver screen, did he merely indulge us with low hanging member-berries or had he finally delivered us a long awaited videogame, cinematic masterpiece? Let’s get into it.

While fixing pipes in the Brooklyn underground, sibling plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are transported through a mysterious pipe to a magical new world. Once there, they become separated, leaving Mario to team up with Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) to find his brother and save him from the clutches of the tyrannical conqueror Bowser (Jack Black).

So here we are. 2024. Thirty-one years after the trainwreck of Super Mario Bros. (‘93). And just like that flophouse (which I do love in my own way), the Super Mario Bros. Movie has packed more easter eggs and references than you could shake a fire-flower at. The difference now is that this movie, unlike its wacky sci-fi predecessor, is working overtime to make you feel like you’re actually experiencing the game you know and love. And to great success! The world lives and breathes with that oh-so enchanting Mushroom Kingdom magic, popping with eye-catching colors and fantastical landscapes fully faithful to the Mario franchise. But past all of that, many critics have cut the movie down for its simplistic plot and not so ambitious story, claiming that it feels more focused on the Mario and friends' wiz-boom-pow spectacle, rather than a strong narrative. And watching this movie for the first time, away from the initial hype and Chris Pratt VO controversy of its heyday, I have to say that that feels mostly true, but to no major detriment of the film.

To put it succinctly, the Super Mario Bros. Movie feels very Nintendo and very Mario (simplistic, but spectacular), which is perfect for this initial go around and I’ll tell you why. The mainline Mario franchise, despite its longevity, has seldom focused on an intricate narrative. More often than not, it’s mostly about wacky and imaginative worlds and Mario’s interaction with them. Now granted, we’re dealing with a movie and not a game here, but what’s delivered, although a tad trite, is a sensible and relatable adventure story that has enough to get you hooked and keep you invested. It’s about a family oriented guy with a dream of being greater than he is, of doing something of note. But it isn't until his brother goes missing in a strange and dangerous land, that he's finally able to push past any doubts he has about himself in order to succeed.

And like any good hero, by the end, he's rewarded not merely for his success, but for the determination and good nature he displayed along the way. Is it safe? Sure. But combine it with the razzle dazzle of the visuals and many would-be viewers will come away with a pleasant or possibly even, enchanting experience. “But wait! What about the change?! Heroes are supposed to change by the end and Mario doesn't change all. Doesn't that matter,” I hear you shouting. Which is a fair point, so let's talk about that.

So sure. Mario is a static character on an emotional level, starting determined, confident, and mostly optimistic, and ending pretty much as the same guy by the end, just with more status. But that’s okay. Static characters, even protagonists can still function successfully in a film, which Mario very much does. You see, it's Mario's good nature and actions that heavily alter the world around him, which is the mark of any good static protagonist. If they don't change, then they have to impact or change the world significantly through the course of the film. Think Marty McFly, Indiana Jones, or in this case, Mario.

Now despite these finer points, I sure many still find themselves unsuede by the argument, holding tight to the notion that the story should have still been something more spectacular. And although I don't entirely disagree with that sentiment, I do feel going with a safer story does help make the overall concept of Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom more digestible for general movie goers and non-gaming types. Moreover, succeeding with a simpler story does (in my opinion) open up the next go around to be something more ambitious than just videogame flash n’ fun because now the concept is tested and well proven. Lastly, as stated before, the story works, some might even say, it's enjoyable. After all, it ain't always about being original. Most of the time, it's just about execution. And execute the Super Mario Bros. Movie does.

In the end, the Super Mario Bros. Movie is a wondrous ride of dazzling nostalgia strung together by a simple, but satisfying story. And although Mario may not scratch that narrative itch for many, it's sure to steal your heart on sheer force of visual and auditory will alone. If nothing else, it definitely warrants a sequel or two, ones that I will happily go see when they inevitably hit theaters in the near future.