A scene from 'The Super Mario Bros Movie'

Ok, raise your hands, those who remember the 1993 live-action Super Mario Brothers film that starred Bob Hoskins as Mario, and John Leguziamo as Luigi. It was actually the first video game to be adapted to a live-action film, but the film flopped (and is now something of a cult classic). Thankfully, not many did watch the film, and so the 2023 fully-animated iteration of the video game, will forever be enshrined in the memory banks of people as THE Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Despite being savagely panned by critics as lacking inventiveness and imagination, and for playing it so safe; audiences all over the world have rushed out to watch the film. Adults are watching, enjoying all the references and Easter eggs, howling when the animation literally recaptures the joys of playing the video game; and the children are delighted with the Illumination/Universal production work that Nintendo gave the green light to. It seamlessly transitions between the Brooklyn of Mario and Luigi, hapless plumbers - and that of the magical parallel universe of the game, where Bowser, King of the  Koopas, Cranky Kong of the Jungle Kingdom, and Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom, rule.

It’s such a breakaway success all over the world, that the Brothers have already toppled Frozen 2 as the best opening weekend of an animated feature; and is well on its way to becoming this year’s Top Gun: Maverick, the first half of the year ‘savior’ of the box office. Nintendo can be proud that it’s even beaten the opening weekend of the most recent Marvel Ant-Man film as top grosser of the year 2023, so far.

Mario is voiced by Chris Pratt, Luigi by Charlie Day, and Princess Peach has Anya Taylor-Joy. Of note as well, are Bowser being voiced by Jack Black, Donkey Kong by Seth Rogen, and Cranky Kong by the ever-droll Fred Armisen. I’d nominate Jack Black as Bowser, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, as my favorites. They truly bring the characters to life in a manner that helps jumpstart the film, and I’ll offer an Honorable Mention to Keegan-Michael Key who voices Toad, a Mushroom Kingdom resident, excited to go on his first genuine adventure.

I’m not going to dwell on the flimsy plot, the little plot twists; because what the critics say are actually on target. But what they failed to anticipate is the audiences didn’t care. It’s fan service, it doesn’t offend anyone, and so what if it does play it safe - that’s what made it so perfect for its mainstream audience. It’s not SpiderVerse by a long shot in terms of giving us innovative animation; nor is it the Lego films, that have a droll, cynical side to them.

This one goes the extra mile in just giving us what we probably all felt would be the most fun animated adaptation of the video game - no more, no less. And it’s certainly heading for that pot of box office gold at the end of the mushroom rainbow.

(The Super Mario Bros. Movie opens in Philippine cinemas on April 19).