Perfect Adaptations: the Super Mario Bros. Movie
A plumber going from left to right never looked so good.
By Scott Rayner
Never has “The” been a more crucial word than with its inclusion in this article’s title. Remove it and the film in question does not qualify for a “Perfect Adaptations” labelling. An easily missed distinction, “Super Mario Bros. Movie” was a disaster of such magnitude it took Nintendo thirty years to take another shot at adapting their gaming mascot to film.
Their extreme caution finally paid off though. If the infamous 1993 film failed to understand its source material (perhaps best proven by Mario actor Bob Hoskins claiming not to be aware he was working on a video game adaptation), then the 2023 version is a triumph.
A film aiming to serve many masters - including delivering an origin story to new fans while satisfying those who have loved Mario their whole lives - it thrives in accomplishing its goal: providing a clear, direct translation of everything that works and is expected from its source material. And then some.
The references go deeper while the Easter eggs get more joyous the older of a Mario fan you are. 1980s Nintendo kids are beyond catered for. (Nintendo/Illumination)
Mushroom Kingdom by way of Brooklyn
From the opening scene of Bowser’s introduction, it’s established we are essentially looking at a big-budget cutscene of a 3D-era Mario game. Good, that’s as it should be. Next up; something a little more unexpected for the titular brother’s introduction. Through his vast gaming catalogue, it’s understood that Mario lives in the Mushroom Kingdom. Almost all the games take place there in some form. So, to find this Mario’s origin story taking place in Brooklyn - a place Mario hasn’t been overly connected to for decades - is a statement: We are including everything from the moustachioed hero’s history in this film. And it combines to create a deep-cut bingo card for fans who have been wahoo-ing since 1985.
A rap introducing the Bros, Charles Marinet’s voice, 1990s stickers of Mario on their van, a Donkey Kong arcade (with Jump-Man) – just some of the references on display within the first 60 seconds of meeting Mario and Luigi. The duo was created in the 1980s and that is heavily leveraged. The incredible original score notwithstanding, the soundtrack proudly relishes in including several 80’s bangers while bringing along some of Mario’s most recent gaming inclusions. Odyssey’s “Toastarina” level, Mario’s Cat Suit, and Peach on a Motorbike blend harmoniously with the 80s nostalgic beats to allow for a true Super Mario world.
The inclusion of Mario’s spin-off activities doesn’t end with Kart racing - Donkey Kong’s introduction arrives in what closely resembles a Super SMASH Bros. battle (Nintendo/Illumination)
“This is Miyamoto”
Even ignoring the skeleton in the closet of the 90s film, it’s understandable why this “true” version of Mario has taken so long to reach the big screen. Video games have a notoriously bad reputation for being translated into other forms of media. Below-average (at best) has been the expectancy for as long as attempts have been made. There are a few exceptions: Mortal Kombat in the 90s found some success. A faithful and passion-filled live-action version of Street Fighter (Assassin’s Fist) in 2014 proved genuine video game adaptations were possible. The success of Mario’s 90s rival however - Sonic the Hedgehog (released in cinemas in 2020) – certainly helped pave the way for the impending Nintendo x Illumination partnership of the world’s most famous plumber. While Sonic took a different approach (venturing into live-action, not animation), the mainstream success it enjoyed seemingly broke the curse, allowing Mario to take the silver screen by storm finally.
While effectively adapting anything is challenging, one obvious ingredient for success is simply using what works from the source material. Forcing it to become something its fans don't recognise is a recipe for disaster. When one of the first things appearing on screen is “a Shigeru Miyamoto production” however, fans need not worry.
Mario’s dad (or rather; the industry legend and creator of Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Titan of all things Nintendo), Miyamoto-san had a defining say in every part of this film. And it shows. Nintendo’s track record of quality control for its most prized IP is perhaps unparalleled. If there was one person who could help guide this project from pixels moving left to right across a TV screen, to a fully-fledged cinematic experience, it was Mr Miyamoto. There are (many) others here responsible for the decision-making - both the minute and epic – but having the most influential figure in gaming history directly involved didn't hurt.
As with the Brooklyn traversal sequence towards the start, the film’s depiction of Mario’s classic side-scrolling levels are highlights of the film. (Nintendo/Illumination)
Jump Man
Their vision of how to make this project work feels both simple and incredibly layered. The internal logic of the film is one of its most successful factors. Moments after arriving in the Mushroom Kingdom, there’s a throwaway line from Mario where he acknowledges the random blocks suspended in mid-air. Then the film just moves on. That's how things are here, accept it. We’re here to have fun, go on an adventure and fill it with love for characters trading off decades’ worth of nostalgia. In short: no one cares how or why those power-ups work. Sure, a fun, little explanation could be given for this world’s whacky physics, but it’s not needed. This film is a tightly engineered 90 minutes – in classic animation tradition – to hold a younger audience’s attention and ensure that there is never any wasted time or filler. This film is a non-stop colourful ride – before a single Kart engine is started.
Even when seemingly impossible rationale elements from the games are explained, they’re more touched upon than dwelled on. The Mario games – specifically the 2D ones – require Mario to move through the terrain of a world which is effectively an obstacle course filled with jumps, drops and dangers. How is this concept translated on screen? As a literal obstacle course; one engineered by Princess Peach for Mario to undertake in proving his worthiness for their mission. Providing not only a literal Mario gaming sequence, but also finds relevancy in the story while showcasing fun action, comedy, and character development.
The Mario Kart sequence is so short and sweet that it’s almost a throwaway scene. But its animation and action are so cool it deserves all the rewatching. Or even a spin-off… (Nintendo/Illumination)
Character selection
The film’s story-based logic for the inclusion of these staples almost overachieves in its new explanations. The Donkey Kong crew drove vehicles in Diddy Kong Racing – so why not make them the ‘Kart’ people in this film? After enlisting the Kong army’s help to challenge Bowser, Peach and Mario stop by what is revealed as the Kong tribe’s Mario Kart garage. A fan-servicing moment (for the millions who have played one of the best-selling games of all time - Mario Kart 8), the heroes get to choose their Kart (before selecting ‘A’ to confirm), in what is arguably the most literal game-to-film moment shown.
Most importantly: it’s all just fun. The comedy taken from the games is on point. The excitement is directly lifted. Discovering the film’s unique additions, however, is just as enjoyable. Seth Rogan’s Donkey Kong brings personality and humour to the gaming icon like never before. His development into a ‘real’ character allows vast amounts of personality to flourish on top of the classic cheeky grins and poses. His relationship with Mario specifically is a highlight. Using their historical animosity (DK even gets to throw barrels at Mario during the Smash Bros. level style battle), the film has them as enemies, turned reluctant allies turned (sort of) friends, by the end. Rogan’s delivery of DK’s quips and put-downs (aimed at Mario), further endear this new character version to fans. Toad (the main one), Luigi, and even nameless Koppas - each character has plenty of moments to shine. Jack Black’s performance as Bowser is nothing short of a scenery-chewing show-stealer. Even Cranky Kong is given his most entertaining presentation to date.
DK and Cranky aside, it’s Princess Peach who’s best served by their character’s overhaul. Traditionally the damsel in distress, Peach here is not the one in need of rescue. This version of Peach doesn't fall into the trap of moving so far away from the helpless female trope that she ends up at the other end of the trope spectrum though. While Peach is confident, independent, and able to take part in the action, she still has a fun personality. She has her comedic moments and jokes. Her action moments are just as strong as Mario’s. She’s also the only hero to select a bike, and the bikes in Mario Kart are awesome.
“Peaches” aside, the piano duet from Bowser and Kamek (performing “Underground theme” from the original 1985 level), shows how wonderfully Mario’s musical history was injected into every frame of the film. (Nintendo/Illumination)
Super Star sounds
If the sounds of Super Mario have brought joy for three decades, they reach new heights with the film’s exceptional soundtrack. Orchestral renditions of beloved music show the love poured into this film is never more evident than in composer Brian Tyler’s OST.
As incredible a feat as it sounds; Tyler expertly references hundreds(!) of songs from Mario’s gaming legacy. Leveraging the timeless jingles, themes, and sounds of (original Mario composer) Koji Kondo to sustain the entire film’s colourful, joyous energy. It peaks following a touchingly wholesome moment between Mario and Luigi, with a surprisingly emotional musical crescendo. As the Bros’ “Super Star” powers kick in, we’re given an audio moment so nostalgically charged by its NES origins, that it helps to deliver the perfect ending to Super Mario on the big screen. It’s a moment that worked so well for me, that I had the exact emotional response upon my second cinema outing to the Mushroom Kingdom.
And as the credits began to roll on that second viewing, I overheard a child nearby ask his dad “Can we go home and play Mario Kart?”.
Kid, you read my mind.