The Plumbers V.S The Critics
There are spoilers in this post!
The highly anticipated Super Mario Bros. movie made its debut on April 5, 2023, stirring up quite a buzz in the entertainment world. However, this cinematic creation has proven to be quite controversial, especially among critics.
Despite a staggering 96% positive rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes (at the time of writing), the film has received mixed reviews from the critical community, garnering a modest 59% score.
Wow! Aren’t they fun at parties?
One critic wrote,
“It is the laziest possible version of a Mario movie, and for most viewers, young and old, that’ll be totally acceptable.”
Really?
I’m quite surprised to hear the claim of it being “the laziest version.” Personally, I fail to see where laziness comes into play.
Both Mario and his brother, Luigi, remained faithful to their original source materials, capturing the essence of their characters admirably. While the critic may argue that fans will accept the movie simply because it’s visually appealing, I couldn’t disagree more. This film offers more than just superficial charm; it presents moments of hilarious comedy, thrilling action sequences, and a delightful abundance of fun Easter eggs that can be enjoyed by the entire family. After all, isn’t that precisely what movies are all about? Not everything is Citizen Kane.
Another critic said,
“A frantic Easter egg hunt of a film that does the bare minimum to please its loyal existing fan base.”
I consider myself a loyal individual, ask anyone.
However, I’m not one to turn a blind eye, this movie isn’t perfect. That being said, it’s far from being bad. In fact, it has garnered significant approval from audiences, just take a glance at that score once again (96%).
The film stays true to the essence of the game, with a slight twist: instead of Peach being the one in need of rescue, it’s Luigi. Personally, I find this alteration to be an improvement. It adds a layer of realism and meaning to Mario’s mission. Moreover, Bowser is both menacing and hilarious, thanks to Jack Black’s excellent voice acting. And let’s not forget Princess Peach, who breaks away from the typical damsel-in-distress trope and becomes a more engaging character. These small changes have contributed to making the movie even better and more enjoyable.
Another one,
“…a disappointment to match the live-action version in 1993.”
Wow, you did not see the original and it shows! Nothing to say here but someone is lying.
And one more,
“I wasn’t expecting Pixar, but the heroes end where they started, not having been transformed by their experiences or learning anything from them.”
I mean Luigi found confidence, Mario believes in himself, they showed that at the end, were you not paying attention?
It’s truly remarkable how some critics approach these movies with the expectation of finding profound philosophical meanings in a Mario film. Not everything has to be deep and thought-provoking; sometimes, we can simply appreciate something that is good and allow ourselves to switch off our brains and enjoy it, just as we did as children. This isn’t to say that the movie lacks emotional moments, but at its core, it’s meant to be a fun and entertaining experience. It’s a movie that allows us to set aside our worries and immerse ourselves in the sheer enjoyment of the story. Perhaps it’s time for some individuals to lighten up and not take life so seriously, even if just for a while. And let’s not forget the sheer delight of the vibrant colors and beautifully designed characters that add to the overall experience.
