Super Mario Bros. (film)

Super Mario Bros. is undoubtedly one of the most beloved video game franchises of all time, having captured the hearts of millions of fans worldwide for more than three decades. The iconic, mustached plumber has tackled everything from rescuing a princess from a tyrant to racing go-karts with his friends. However, one area where the franchise has stumbled is in its attempts to make the transition from the video game world to the big screen. In 1993, Hollywood attempted to turn the beloved game into a feature film, releasing the aptly named Super Mario Bros. The movie, unfortunately, failed to win over audiences, critics, or even the creators of the video game itself.

Directed by Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, the film starred Bob Hoskins as Mario and John Leguizamo as his younger brother, Luigi. The two must battle against the villainous King Koopa (played by Dennis Hopper), who is determined to merge the real world with a dinosaur kingdom, with the help of the missing Princess Daisy (Samantha Mathis).

The film was a significant departure from the video game. Instead of being a cartoonish and colorful adventure, it was a dark and gritty science fiction take on the franchise, complete with guns, a dystopian world, and a grimy New York City setting. The filmmakers attempted to balance the whimsical storytelling of the game with the post-apocalyptic aesthetic of Blade Runner, with decidedly mixed results.

The film also struggled with its pacing. While the video games moved at a brisk pace, the film plodded along, weighed down by its mythology and the mundanity of the script. It takes almost an hour for Mario and Luigi to even enter the Mushroom Kingdom, with much of the first half of the movie focused on exposition and setting the stage. The pacing issues would dog the film throughout, with a frenetic final act that felt rushed and haphazard.

Another challenge with the film was its casting. While Hoskins and Leguizamo are both fine actors, they never seemed to fully embody the spirit of Mario and Luigi. The two actors lacked the comedic chemistry and charm that made the video game duo so lovable, with Hoskins in particular struggling with the Brooklyn accent and physicality of the character. The script also gave the actors little to work with, reducing the iconic plumbers to dry and forgettable heroes.

Despite the film’s shortcomings, the most significant issue for the creators of the game was its handling of the franchise’s legacy. Nintendo had little creative input into the film, with the director and screenwriters taking liberties with the source material. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario universe, famously criticized the film for being too convoluted and far removed from the cartoonish charm of the games.

In the end, Super Mario Bros. failed to exceed the expectations of critics and audiences alike. The film grossed roughly $20 million at the box office, falling well below expectations, and was widely panned by critics for its convoluted storyline and uneven performances. The film has since become something of a cult classic, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

The failure of Super Mario Bros. serves as a cautionary tale for filmmakers looking to adapt beloved franchises for the big screen. It’s essential to remain true to the source material while also exploring new creative possibilities. The film lacked the charm and whimsy of the video games, leaving audiences confused and disappointed. However, the movie serves as a fascinating artifact, one that demonstrates the potential pitfalls of bringing a beloved property to life in a new medium.

In conclusion, Super Mario Bros. is a film that, unfortunately, failed to capture the magic of its source material. Despite a talented cast and crew, it fell short in its attempts to bring the beloved video game to life, through its dark and gritty mythology, uneven pacing, and lackluster performances. While the movie still holds some entertainment value, it’s best viewed as a fascinating failure, a reminder of the challenges of translating beloved video games into box office hits.