Fans of the Super Mario Bros franchise have been eagerly anticipating the release of the new Super Mario Bros movie, and now the wait is finally over. The movie hit theaters on April 5, and it has already been met with rave reviews.

Directed by the acclaimed filmmakers Aaron Horvat and Michael Jelenic, the Super Mario Bros movie features a star-studded cast, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach and Jack Black as Bowser. The movie also features cameos from other beloved characters from the franchise such as Luigi, played by Charlie Day. Toad, played by Keegan-Michael Key; and Donkey Kong, played by Seth Rogen.

The Super Mario Bros movie is a live-action/animated hybrid, with the animated characters being brought to life through CGI. The animation is top-notch, and the characters look just as they do in the games, which is sure to please fans.

Many fans going to see the movie were skeptical about how the producers and directors of this movie would approach the idea. Taking a game as exemplary as Super Mario Bros and changing it into a different form of entertainment on a bigger screen was hard to accept for many people. 

The movie follows an exciting story line based off of the Super Mario Bros games, with Mario and Luigi separated through magical pipes under Brooklyn, New York. Mario goes on a quest to rescue Luigi as the underground pipes separated the brothers into two completely different worlds. Mario quickly embarks on this adventure with the help of Princess Peach and the Donkey Kong Empire, to face off against Bowser who hopes to marry the Princess using Luigi as leverage to force her hand.

To be more climatic, if the princess does not agree, Bowser plans to take over the kingdoms using the powers from the superstar he claimed from the ice Penguins. The film also features plenty of action-packed sequences, including high-speed chases, battles with Bowser’s minions and epic boss battles.

One of the standout features of the Super Mario Bros movie is its humor. The Super Mario Bros are known for their unique sense of humor, and they bring plenty of laughs to the movie. Chris Pratt’s portrayal of Mario is particularly comedic, with his trademark Italian accent and quirky personality. 

In addition, Jack Black, who plays Bowser, is an iconic quirky actor, and in this movie his personality shines through. The directors even allow him to sing a special song for Princess Peach in the movie. This scene turned out to be one of the largest highlights and the most show-stopping scene from the movie. 

Some other highlights from the movie include the brotherly relationship between Mario and Luigi. From having their own plumbing business together in their home city to spending the entire movie searching to rescue one another, their bond is unmatched and put to the test throughout the entire movie. However, it comes full circle in the final boss battle scene at the end of the movie in the most beautiful way. 

One casting choice that fans were universally critical about, seen in constant reviews and written opinions, was Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong. Viewers were upset that the voice he used for Donkey Kong was basically just his everyday voice, and he did not do much to get into character. 

Seth Rogen even addressed this issue in a press interview. On the other side of the controversy, however, some fans believe that Seth’s voice fit the character of Donkey Kong well and that he was a great choice to take on this timeless role.

Another criticism boiled from the very beginning when the first trailer and sneak peaks were released was the atrocious Italian accent Pratt used to portray for Mario. But or explained in another interview and throughout the movie, that one snippet of audio was the only time the accent was used other then when Mario said his iconic catchphrases. 

Originally, Mario’s entire family is Italian but being from New York, he adopted the New York accent, making Pratt’s disturbing impression of the accent irrelevant. 

Supporting roles such as Toad and Luigi were played by well-known actors such as Charlie Day and Keegan-Michael-Key. Day took on a huge role both on and off the screen as one of the main characters as well as an executive writer and producer. 

With the nostalgia surrounding the Super Mario Bros movie, there are elements for everyone to enjoy. Audiences of all ages can appreciate this new movie, stemming from a beloved video game. This film has moments of comedy to action and everything in between, making it the perfect family-friendly movie.

Fans can only hope that this movie is the first of a long line of Mario-related movies. For a game that has been this long running, there are many aspects and important variables that could be incorporated into other great movies. Even though the idea of a potential sequel to this movie is a distant hope, with an introduction like this, one could only wonder what the future of video game movies holds for fans.

Leaving the theater, fans will not be able to suppress a smile after the undeniably excited mood the Super Mario Bros movie will put them in. Practically skipping out of the theater and sore from all the laughter, it is hard to doubt that fans will thoroughly enjoy this game to movie success. 

Overall, the Super Mario Bros movie is a fun, action-packed adventure that is sure to please fans of the franchise. Its combination of humor, action, and heart make it a great choice for families and gamers alike. So grab your popcorn and head to the theater to catch this must-see movie.