The Super Mario Bros. Movie - Review!

[@ortizmaymi_la]

I’m a Nintendo fan since the “Game & Watch” days. I saw it with my kids (12 and 13) and had a great time. 90min of family time, popcorn, and couple laughs.

[@poopoopeepee692]

I loved the little game and watch reference in the movie!

[@ShooterMcDabbin_]

Who else love that Bowser scene when he plays his own level theme song on the piano that was straight Legendary ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@LaurenWatkinsArt]

Went opening night with my family. The theater was packed and all the kids were in heaven watching it. As a parent who has suffered through a lot of kids shows this was an enjoyable experience.

[@MrKyGuy]

It really just felt like a celebration of Mario and Nintendo in whole. Super fun!

[@SwatBeatsOfficial]

Mario having a weak story is the most Mario thing possible.

[@Lupin1978]

Facts

[@JumbledEye]

Yep. You don’t play a Mario game expecting The Last of Us. You play to save a princess and/or free a kingdom. That’s it

[@alexmaverick6647]

A filmmaking team made a compelling story out of The Lego Movie. If that’s possible, then it’s possible for something like Mario. Stop making excuses for laziness because you got a nostalgia boner.

[@orebb2204]

@Alex Maverick but he's right, he's talking about how the movie is based on the simple premise of mario games, this goes beyond nostalgia. Besides, it's really not by force that they write a strong script out of something that was already more or less simplistic. Agreed, the mario movie wasn't perfect, but the target audience is primarily mario fans. Regardless of anything, this movie is going to do well anyway.

[@SoloJona]

Perfect adaptation

[@Internatube]

This is why I trust Dan since his screenjunkies days. Just his honest positive response to a film, and in most cases it aligns extremely close to my own

[@TheFunwichHorror]

And this is the right way to go in my opinion. Like Dan said in the video, many people these days look at Rotten Tomatoes critic scores, and use it to either condemn critics or justify their own tastes. Don't look at ALL the critics' reviews because obviously not all of them will share your opinion, just pick some that you think share the same movie tastes as you!

[@Internatube]

​@@TheFunwichHorror Right now the only critics I truly care to listen to are Chris Stuckmann, Jeremy Jahns, Dan Murrell, Penguinz0 and occassionally IGN. All of them gave the Mario movie "Solid Good" reviews, which frankly from Illumination is freaking astounding.

[@beenieweenie1986]

when he says I don't just look at it from my perspective but think about how others will see it is why I like him. You don't watch mario with the same mindset you watch casablanca. A summer blockbuster shoot em up action movie shouldn't be viewed with the same eye as your award chasers and kids movies need to be viewed from that perspective

[@Internatube]

@@beenieweenie1986 you can definitely tell he's a fan of the Mario series

[@lydia1634]

We are taking out seven year old and four year old to this movie as their first theatrical experience. Covid made that complicated for a while and then it's hard to find a movie that isn't too intense for them. This looks just perfect. They love Mario. My four year old plays Super Mario 3D World every single day. The fact that this movie has a thin, predictable plot means they won't be overwhelmed by the stakes. And hey, I don't need it to be amazing. I just need it to be pleasant. This sounds like everything we were hoping for.

[@dejohnam]

Don’t forget super princess peach for Nintendo DS! I loved that game and they used some of her special moves for peach’s action sequence :)

[@david88464]

Really? That's amazing, Super Princess Peach was a great platformer, powerups were fun; it was closer to Kirby / Starfy than Mario.

[@joncheww]

As always, your takes are thoughtful, poignant, and well-informed. Appreciate the sentiment on the movie!

[@jm0gr1dge]

I saw this in a cinema packed full of children. Packed full. I haven’t seen a movie in that kind of environment in many many years. The buzz of their excitement was palpable throughout the whole thing; riotous laughter, whoops of recognition (‘Rainbow Road! Diddy Kong!’), a huge round of applause at the end (something we never do in the UK). It made the movie going experience 10 times more magical, and helped me forget the movie’s deficiencies when it’s target audience was so clearly loving every second. Thanks for the review Dan!

[@likestoospooge]

I just got home from the theater with my kids (6 & 9) and they both absolutely loved it. They can’t wait to see it again. The end.

[@bradyarguin]

Nailed it with the “is the Batmobile an Easter egg” line… when I saw complaints about an Easter egg fest I expected way worse. Nope… it’s just bc it includes stuff from the source material. Go figure

[@TwiStedReality1313]

I don't see why people bitch about fan service.. I mean as fans isn't thst exactly what we want? Lol

[@ryhanon7]

@@TwiStedReality1313 Because the only purpose it serves is a wink and a nod to all the mindless fans to make them feel like they're sharing in part of a club for noticing the reference. It's really low effort psychological manipulation that tricks people into believing something is good because it calls forth memories of other things they love, giving them a rush of endorphins over the feeling. It's why there are so many KZbin channels dedicated to listing dozens of Easter eggs from literally every single entry of every single tv show and movie in a popular franchise - be it Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, or anything else. Actual quality storytelling has taken a backseat to nostalgic references because it's easier to do that than it is to write a good story.

[@Kfoglarsson]

@@ryhanon7 Wow, what a cynical point of view. It's just good fun.

[@ryhanon7]

@@Kfoglarsson Things can be good fun while also having a good story. Sorry if I prefer something better than low effort nostalgia tickling nonsense.

[@brycebitetti1402]

@Ryhanon Exactly. I will always bring up The LEGO Movie in conversations like this because that film had no license to be as good as it was. And I you're a huge LEGO fan, there's tons of references in that movie to keep you entertained, but there's also a really good storyline that uses the IP in a creative way. The Mario movie could've had a better story. Hell, the Mario RPGs and even the Nintendo Power comic had way better stories than this film.

[@bluesdjben]

I'll probably see it, mostly because the animation looks so good. Plus, it's only 92 minutes, which is a perfect length for this kind of film. And seeing Jack Black get to play a big role is always fun.

[@ericsmith9547]

Saw the movie earlier today, and had so much fun with it. The visuals, voice acting, the sound track and score amazing. I wouldn’t call the story lacking I would just call it very simple but it could have used more depth. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone.

[@matthewstarliper4074]

I agree, I thought the story was good. It was certainly simple enough that my children could grasp it without going unnecessarily deep that they wouldn't. I would have preferred more Mario and Luigi together, but otherwise I liked the story and the several underlying story threads.

[@siddhantbanerjee3328]

Going to Mario and expecting a deep plot is like going to Taco Bell and expecting pizza. Loved this movie

[@mainstreetsaint36]

Gourmet pizza!

[@B-Dad]

Well maybe they thought it was a taco hut (Taco Bell Pizza Hut combo) 🤷🏾‍♂️😂😂👍🏾😜

[@kstephenson5857]

I agree; unfortunately, Taco Bell actually DID sell a "Mexican Pizza" ages ago, and it was so popular that it was actually brought back last year. So there were many people who went to Taco Bell and legit did expect pizza.

[@themikx2939]

Completely agree with your thoughts. The animation was phenomenal especially during the action set pieces but the character writing could've used some work. With the exception of Luigi no one really developed. But I mostly blame that on shoving too many characters with a 90 minute runtime.

[@oof8888]

I think it’s more like they don’t need to be developed, that’s my opinion

[@themikx2939]

​@@oof8888 I feel like character development is necessary for a movie. I get not having any character development for the games but a movie is a narrative and a strong narrative should have developed characters. I'm not saying they have to be super complex just not so bland is all

[@trustnoone3007]

Luigi was my favorite character in the movie. He's always scared 😂.

[@themikx2939]

@@trustnoone3007 Same he was great I hope we get a Luigi's Mansion movie at some point!

[@themikx2939]

@@swordmaster305 Do you want to explain how Mario was developed as a character then?

[@JoshLange3D]

So weird that after decades since their conception, Mario and Tetris films release in the same month.

[@Cacuofa]

As Street fighter and Mortal Kombat movies were released on the same year.

[@benfromthebunker9621]

I took my daughter to see this movie. She was giggling throughout. That's what made it good for me. I enjoyed the references and it was fun.

[@thedarkemissary]

Still hope we adults get the Pedro Pascal dystopia version.

[@mehblahmehblah]

Pedro Pascal as Wario?!

[@thedarkemissary]

@@mehblahmehblah Saturday Night Live - kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5qsg5-dab2la9k

[@cteal2018]

"It's...me......Mario"

[@cameron2069]

Seeing the movie’s reviews be so polarized disheartened me, but hearing Dan gives me reassurance that this might actually be an okay film. Just one of those films that critics shrugged or dismissed but could gain a tight knit following (i.e. A Goofy Movie, Speed Racer, Sonic films). The voices I personally trust such as Dan, Stuckmann and Jahns seem to enjoy the film, and that’s a good safety net for me. The relationship between audience and critic and the value of art down the road is definitely one of interest to me.

[@jim1242]

I think the crtics forget movies are meant to be above all fun and entertaining. Look at Pixar, they are struggling as they are too focused on trying to win an oscar than entertaining famlies. I think you will love this movie

[@backup_account_1]

Excelente review. También me asusté cuando supe que Illumination estaría a cargo, pero gracias al cielo hicieron un excelente trabajo. Tengo 36 años y la película me encantó. Vi ayer el preestreno en 3D con el doblaje en español latino (que dicho sea de paso hicieron un excelente trabajo), y la veré nuevamente en 2D con las voces originales cuando esté disponible en streaming. La disfruté de principio a fin. Superó mis expectativas.

[@FunCaboodle]

Thanks for this review 👍🏻

[@mauricioramirez5948]

Two reasons why the movie plot is kept simple: 1. They wanna keep it simple since this is Nintendo finally giving the ok and wanted to keep it safe and make its money back. Maybe down the road, we can get one with a more complicated plot 2. It's a Mario movie. The games are simple. You gotta rescue someone, and that's it. There's maybe a couple games that have a complex story but for the most part, it's simple. It's simple because it works for that franchise.

[@trustnoone3007]

It was a smart move. The sequel will be better and bigger. The Mario movie was good!

[@kevinhardy8997]

I liked it! I would have loved it if they gave the script just one more pass to create a truly tearjerker moment. That would have sealed the deal. It just needed one true “Noooooooo!” moment.

[@trustnoone3007]

The movie is good, but the sequel is going to better and bigger. I hope 🙏 they include Bowser's kids; the Koopa kids.

[@kaitlando636]

The wait for a sequel is gnna be so treacherous and hard lol

[@michaelcameron4337]

Super Mario Bros was the most fun I’ve had in the theater in at least a decade or two. We loved it, and the whole theater had an awesome time!! It was nice to enjoy it with a big group of people again.

[@chevsilveraider8986]

I went to see this movie last week. The filmmakers were looking to cater to a certain audience and they hit the nail on the head. My stepdaughter is 12 years old and did not grow up with Mario games and she loved the movie. My wife and I also loved it because they didn’t butcher the characters and stuck to the source material, something a lot of comic book based films are notorious for doing again and again

[@_paul]

This is a critic-proof movie that kids will have a blast with. It will do crazy bank - my showing was sold out and roughly 60%-70% children going into an Easter weekend with kids off from school. With that said - minor spoilers here, but I want the Punch-Out!! movie where Little Mac retires after his boxing career to open a pizza place and, basically, recycles the entire plot of Rocky Balboa.

[@MayorOfEarth79]

Fine/tolerable is the best way to describe this movie. It's very much in Illumination's wheelhouse with the celebrity voices and dated pop music drops. It knows Mario and knows how to do Easter Eggs, but it has a real lack of ambition. It feels made for kids and video game playing parents who want to teach kids about them. The action is pretty good atleast. I'm glad you brought up that comment about Rotten Tomatoes too, because I think the idea of this hoity-toity elite critic has been dead or is an incredibly minor supply for a very long time. And not only that, but I think this whole idea between reviewer, entertainer, and influencer has made the whole "critic" identity much more nebulous in the modern day. If you go on RT these days, half the critics are people with small social media followings who have never been published in like a big outlet. So this whole idea that critics are so separated from John Q Popcorn couldn't be further from the truth.

[@kamichan127]

Tolerable is a good term for this movie , i couldn't describe how I felt cut I just felt bored most of the time

[@PrimRooks]

What personally makes me shake my fist at the sky is that if you’ve heard Anya-Taylor Joy in the Netflix Dark Crystal series, she CAN do an effective and endearing princess voice, and she’d be my own fancast for Zelda if that franchise were to ever be adapted into an animated movie.

[@ironfox4990]

She’s definitely more Zelda like to me too.

[@lucyknight9617]

i feel like emily blunt would be a perfect zelda personally

[@JTSam]

"I need a hero" was best done in Short Circuit.

[@alexanderklepp]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Dan. I’m really hoping to see it ASAP.

[@drewsaga101]

This is the cornerstone that leads up to Captain N after we get Metroid and a few others. Motherbrain will be their Thanos

[@shelby127]

Did you see that Mutant Mayhem preview? That got me stoked. Also my kids and I loved this movie it’s nothing spectacular story wise but I think it was great overall. Lots of good voice casting really.

[@ItsJustJess269]

Thank you for this as always! Got my tickets for Thursday night in IMAX can't wait to see the movie in that format but yes I've heard the story is lacking but still excited 😍

[@trustnoone3007]

The story is straight forward and you're going to like it. I just saw it last night and I wanna see it again next week. First time in a very long time that I watched a movie on a Wednesday night and this movie caused it. lol. Anyway, have fun and enjoy!

[@nathanirwin01]

Short Circuit 2 did the I need a hero scene back in 1988, by that logic Shrek should never have done it. Sometimes things get brought back for new audiences

[@lanastan322]

the animation and potential for future stories in this universe could be a super hit

[@T-M-N-T]

My wife & I loved the movie so much on Imax that we are going to rewatch it next week on 4DX

[@diegofranco5760]

I am very glad to see there’s fans out there to respect the movie.🙂

[@PhilFromSchool]

I remember that movie fight with the Nintendo Cinematic Universe. I wasn't so sure these characters could be expanded without breaking their essence, but I quite enjoyed the explored personalities they gave them in this movie :o

[@NoahPopejoy]

This is my favorite film of all time right now and the first movie I went back to rewatch in theaters. It's just everything I wanted from a Mario movie. It isn't anything more, but what I want from a Mario movie is to walk out of it saying "Yeah. That was Mario through and through." And I got that in spades. I teared up a few times in this film just from being overwhelmingly happy about what I was seeing. I won't deny the film has flaws. But man... I just loved everything about this.

[@wackko300]

I just saw the new Super Mario Bros. movie and I loved it! I going to go see it again on Easter!:) The story is simple....like in most Mario games! As for Peach doing stuff other than being rescued, she does other things in the cartoons too.

[@KrazyJoe1701]

"Holding out for a hero should have been retired when Shrek used it. You can't get any better than that." -- Umm...YEAH you can. The absolute BEST use of that song in a movie just happened last month in Shazam: Fury of the Gods. That absolutely topped it's use in Shrek. Shazam for the win.

[@cujogoodie1]

7:50 - "dream works used 'holding on for a hero' in it peak effectiveness in shrek"....how dare you besmirch Footloose!!!! Love your videos Dan. Best critic on the internet

[@Ravenblade460]

Something you said at the start caught my attention. "You never watch/read critic reviews before you go watch a movie" Do you think if you where not a critic that is something you would still do? Depending on the movie I hardly ever watch any critical take until I have seen the movie then go back and watch reviews afterwards. Kind of weird because I don't watch reviews to decide if I want to see a movie, I just watch them to see how the reviewer aligns with my own thought's. Anyway potential interesting discussion about how many people actually watch reviews looking to help them decide if a movie is worth watching and how many just watch reviews like me for purely entertainment.

[@heatheraggus7501]

I enjoy reviews to catch things I may have missed, not for their opinion on the movie necessarily if that makes sense!

[@nikitaaverin]

Geee. I kinda went for Princess Peach in SM2, too. In Super Mario Kart, Yoshi and/or Toad were my general picks. I was skeptical when I heard about this project, but this is something that might work for my inner kid.

[@broosewee]

This review was 100% spot on. Actually thinking about it after a couple of days, the story isn't so bad for what is likely the first of many Nintendo movies. It plants the seed nicely.

[@TVrayvaughan]

I have been catching these early a lot lately. Always a pleasure to hear Dan's thoughts on the new movies out in the theatre each week.

[@CWargh63]

The most untouched 'franchise' currently in existence is Terry Pratchett's Discworld.

[@benjaminbaxter9931]

Dan, you just got a shoutout from the film theory crew on their Mario video. If you have time, I suggest putting together a video discussing that video to see if you can grab some subscribers.

[@AnimatedCriticStudios]

As someone who isn’t a Mario fan, een thought I didn't care for this movie, I'm glad fans of the games love it, and I respect their opinion.

[@daytimesky]

In addition to Super Mario Bros. 2, Princess Peach was playable in Super Mario 3D World, a 2013 game. And Rosalina was playable in that as well!

[@benabramowitz18]

No matter what we think of this movie, the fact that it looks like the games already makes it better than the live-action movie from the 90's.

[@drewpittman1485]

Love the review Dan. Though I am of an age where the best use of Holding out for a Hero is in Short Circuit 2, that's just me.

[@jakejuston292]

OMG, you're hilarious. I remember that too. Guess I'm of an age too. lol

[@Mightyjordy]

I haven’t heard anyone complain about peach being an action hero…she was there since smb2 like you said, but she was also a fighting/action character in super Mario rpg, super smash bros, ssb melee,ssb brawl, ssb ultimate, super princess peach, and kind of in Mario odyssey. From what I’ve seen people are less angry about empowering female characters and more at emasculating and depowering male characters.

[@TheDrGRat]

The best use of Holding Out For a Hero is definitely Short Circuit 2... You won't convince me otherwise.

[@nightwing4065]

MCU = Mario Cinematic Universe

[@roberto987]

Dan dunno what you did with the light but you finally nailed it in this video. Btw don't think I'm letting go on the fact that you are not making a yearly supercut anymore.

[@DanMurrellMovies]

I only did one of those, for the 2010s at SJ.

[@aliali-ce3yf]

i really don't get why adults are shocked that kids animated movies are (shocker!) targeted directly to kids. adults have plenty of movies catering to them. let kids have a few catering to them. the man children need to let go.

[@HalfEatenMedia]

“I need a hero” is used in the Shazam sequel which is also playing still. Hah😂

[@gregtroyan]

Allow me to offer an argument in favor of Holding Out for a Hero. I discovered the musical greatness of Jim Steinman through that song's usage in Shrek 2...and that movie came out 20 years ago. There might be a whole new generation of kids turned on to who I consider to be the greatest American songwriter through this movie, and I think that's pretty cool. Yes, the song was used in the trailer for Detective Pikachu and in the 2nd Angry Birds movie, but other than that, the song hasn't been used in an out-and-out kids movie for almost 20 years. I think it's fine to introduce kids to the greatness of Jim Steinman.

[@DanMurrellMovies]

Maybe because it was also in Shazam 2 and Tetris in the last month, I just think it’s so overused

[@gregtroyan]

@@DanMurrellMovies A fair point. Overused in cinema in general, but looking at the market, I doubt many kids are watching Tetris, and the box office results for Shazam also argue that the superhero sequel might not have much cultural impact, and thus most kids won't see it. Therefore the Super Mario Bros Movie may be an entire generation's first exposure to the song, and I say let the kids have their Steinman. 😊

[@Elayzee]

It was only "okay." Which is sad because I actually had high hopes for it. It's not bad though.

[@trustnoone3007]

My friend said the same. I liked it and gave it a 7.5. But I wanna see it again and that number would most likely go up.

[@paulaabelenda5867]

Mário is a +35 years old franchise so it makes me glad to hear that the movie is referencing multiple games from its past. The Mario franchise should be celebrated and I’m tired of video game movies shying away from its roots.

[@AlMoSiCe210]

I went to a midnight showing and I left the theater glowing regarding how much fun I had with it! Yes, it wasn't gamechanging but I had an AMAZING ride with it for what it was. I was thinking when they were doing the 80's songs needledrops, my thought was "... you have... nearly 4 decades of video game music to pull & orchestrate from [which when they did, they did it REALLY WELL], and you choose to move away from it? C'mon now... I would love to see this become a franchise that spins off into a Luigi's Mansion movie! I need that in my life

[@LazybonesInc]

Yeah I really don’t get critics’ complaints that there’s too much “fan service”. Did you not want any franchise iconography that’s spanned decades by now in a MARIO movie?!

[@ras_732]

I'd love to see the French version of this movie just to hear Pierre's voice performance as Mario.

[@lucascompton1325]

5:40 Super Mario Bros, 2 doesn’t count because it was a re-skin of Doki Doki island panic And also the game was a dream peach didn’t even went on the adventure and in my opinion I consider princess peach in the Super Mario Bros movie to be the worst character in the film. She felt nothing like Princess Peach. She felt a lot more like Princess Daisy. Her character is boring and bland, and she was too much of a Mary, Sue, and I prefer the game counterpart more than the boring girl boss version.

[@Cameroo]

Someone said this was worse the the 93 movie? ARE YOU FUCKING SHITTING ME?! Anyhoo, it looks fun and seems like they're hitting all the checkmarks for what I personally want in an SMB movie. Thanks for the review Dan!

[@briantimberlake8723]

Best use of holding out for a hero is Short Circuit 2.

[@GILx87]

Solid 5.5/10. Animation was excellent, the Mario Kart sequence was sweet, but you nailed it on the head it felt like a kids movie written by a kid. Mario and Luigi really felt like side characters throughout most of the story. I think the Nintendo foundation is solid to build off of.

[@kamichan127]

I also didn't really like it but loved the Mario kart sequence haha ! Glad to see the kart part called out ^^

[@iwearcrocs9970]

i really found the 80s music usage incredibly jarring. It almost felt like they didn't trust the Mario OST to be able to carry the emotion of those scenes and placed that there instead. Overall though I did enjoy the film, and I feel like I NEED a Luigi's Mansion movie ASAP.

[@MaverickJay1977]

I think Short Circuit 2 wants a word with you about Holding out for a Hero… Great review as always. Best film critic on KZbin. Id love to have a movie fight with you even if I’d probably lose!

[@Dario-yl7vt]

A Minions, Nintendo, Multiverse would be amazing

[@LarryMonteforte]

Your comments on "I need a hero" are spot on 😂

[@andrewgalvin4559]

I must say on the Illumination front, I really enjoyed the first two Despicable Me films, I think they stand up well as animated films

[@canderia]

The biggest problem I had with the Mario voice was when you have the big shift from the opening commercial and the actual characters voices, but as the movie went on I just accepted the Mario voice and didn't think about it much. The movie has a good flow to it, and they got their money's worth out of Jack Black.

[@LaytonEversaul]

I LOVE the 1993 Mario Bros. for all of its campy eccentricities and effects, but I'm hoping this feels just a little more like the game, which is a low, low bar.

[@RonnieBarzel]

I’d argue the ending of “Saints Row: The Third” was the peak for “Holding Out For a Hero.” My biggest nitpick with SMB was them having Donkey Kong as Cranky’s son and not his grandson.

[@MrEliwankenobi]

Yeah, I also agree, the 80’s music put in the movie 🍿 was not really necessary. There’s a lot of music from the game’s score that could have been used and been just as appropriate

[@mrdozey7361]

Super Mario Bros.(1993) has a passionate online fan base (myself not included) maybe that particular writer was part of that movement. A lot of trash movies have strong fan bases that befuddle me.

[@heatheraggus7501]

I view it with rose colored glasses 😍

[@TFD-sn5nt]

Charles Martinet deserve to be at that seat along with them. If it wasn’t for his iconic voice. Mario would be as famous and iconic as it is today. Give credit where it belongs

[@christopherfiore6820]

"You can write for kids, but you don't have to write for kids." SpongeBob, Ren and Stimpy Agree!

[@retrofan4963]

Don't forget Rocko's Modern Life as well.

[@kypzethdurron]

Curious to know if the overall assessment is that it's a bit like the first (decent) Despicable Me movie or more recently the DC super pets? (Rather than the minions or emoji movie etc? Aimed youngish but still fun. Or even maybe like Ice Age?)

[@DanMurrellMovies]

I liked it a bit more that Super-Pets and I’m a fan of both franchises

[@kypzethdurron]

@@DanMurrellMovies Thank you! I think I'll make the effort this weekend for some fun, but not expect to have my mind blown :)

[@hoochill]

audience score looks promising though

[@jamesonstalanthasyu]

I was wondering about the ending. That pipe to get into the Mushroom kingdom goes to different locations? It seemed to go back home, but the bullet went to some other sky area?

[@timadams9447]

My two kids both needed to go use the bathroom during the film. One in the first third, the second just before the climax. I had no problem getting out of the seat to take them. This film is avatar; it's pretty but that's about it.

[@jacksauce]

I really respect how you do your reviews, not just blindly following the narrative of other critics. Makes me trust your opinions even more.

[@JR.777.]

I never thought I’d see you in a demon slayer shirt. It’s a nice shirt! I’m gonna watch this with my nieces and nephew👍🏼

[@Calypsotheseagoddess]

Since Nintendo is working with Universal, I’m curious why they went with Illumination instead of Dreamworks (especially when Dreamworks has proven to be a studio that can make great films while Illumination has proven to be a waste of an animation studio).

[@eternalfailure4081]

DreamWorks: ok, so we're thinking deep characters, complex plot, emotional moments, oscar nominations. Think Shrek 2 or Kung Fu panda... Illumination: shows minions box office receipts

[@joncheww]

Dreamworks has had several flops and very forgettable movies outside of the Shrek franchise (maybe Kung Fu Panda and maybe How to Train Your Dragon, but those were definitely smaller than Shrek). When this deal was signed (like in 2016?), Puss In Boots 2 wasn't even in production yet so that's not even a comparable. Minions isn't for you, but it makes a lot of money, has a broad appeal, and has delivered results. Nintendo is still a business at the end of the day and Illumination is definitely a safer / more favourable choice. In any case, Nintendo would also have the creative control in the relationship, being the IP owner, so as long as Illumination could jive with Nintendo, it's a easy sell.

[@GregHuffman1987]

Instead of holding out for a hero they coulda used send me an angel which woulda referenced the wizard

[@dennisorozco1958]

When this movie wasws anounced Disney still had good faith with their movies Now I'm sooooo glad that Nintendo didn't went with Disney

[@JeremyThomas-xu6gc]

Taking my kids Fri night cause Ryan Kinel said it was good. As an original Nintendo kid from the 80's I've been trying to get my kids into Mario with my Nintendo classic but they don't like how difficult it is. They love Mario kart 8 though but maybe this will get them to try give Mario 3 another play.

[@evanskan6326]

I am going to watch it today! Unfortunately, we decided (at the cinema I work) to only play the dubbed version this week and add the subtitled version with the original voice cast during easter. I can't wait that much longer to see it so I am watching it today! Regarding what you said about Rotten Tomatoes and the critics, there is something I would like to add. People see the RT score and don't even bother to read some of the reviews. I've read some of the negative reviews and they don't make sense... There is one who wrote that Pratt is a bad choice for Mario's voice... That's it! Nothing more and that review did count to the overall, average score. Another one says that Peach is out of character.... Apparently he hasn't played any Mario game... Peach kicks ass in some games. If this film is a Mario/Nintendo celebration, then it has succeeded already. Nintendo will go on and make more movies but each of their IPs have different "requirements". A Zelda film for instance must be heavily story/character driven (I would kill for a Zelda movie made by Studio Ghibli...).

[@trustnoone3007]

A Zelda movie and Metroid flick would rule.

[@alwinhuynh]

been waiting for this review, thanks dan!

[@LocalMultiplex]

Wasn't the Super Mario universe idea pitched in the first fan face off? I remember the guy did a really bad job arguing for it. He was like "we're going to go back to the beginning and see why Donkey Kong was throwing those barrels". Then Andy was just like, "So we have a Mario movie, Zelda movie, etc?"

[@ocher8931]

Dan, I don’t want to comment on your review. I’ve been subbed since you left SJ. I know the quality your bring. I want to give props for that t-shirt!! Big fan 👌🏿👌🏿

[@jansandman6983]

Having a simplistic script for a Mario movie is being faithful to the Mario Bros. story line. It's not like Mario's scripts from way back are complex; it's just plain and simple, not to be taken seriously but to just have fun with it.

[@Cosper79]

I said the same thing about the hero song. Shreks got that one tied up and never letting go.

[@Gamer7z7]

I actually liked the movie. I agree DK voice work is just “ok” and doesn’t add to or reflect the personality much. Side note, having seen Ryan Reynolds as the face of Mint for so long, I forgot about the fox mascot, but seeing the fox again, I think Ryan fits the company perfectly (when he’s not being Deadpool levels of obscene).

[@frstonez]

Great and insightful review, as per usual! Thanks, Dan! Also, love the shirt 😄

[@moviebuff64]

"A deep loathing in the marrow of my bones" lol, I'm totally gonna use that.