This article is about the movie counterpart. You may be looking for the original counterpart from the games.
- "Mushroom Kingdom, here we come!"
- —Mario, The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- —Mario, The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Mario is the titular main protagonist of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and will returns as the titular main protagonist of its upcoming sequel.[1] He is a plumber from Brooklyn who gets transported to the Mushroom Kingdom alongside his twin brother Luigi, where its ruler Princess Peach helps him rescue his younger twin brother from the evil Bowser.
Profile[]
Physical description[]
Mario's appearance resembles his video game counterpart but far more detailed. He now wears a red collared shirt rather than the basic red tee his video game version does, his shoes now have laces, and his overalls now have a pocket on the front.
Personality traits[]
- "Let's-a go."
- —Mario ready to fight against Bowser.
Mario is an overall friendly person. Even when it was his first time visiting the Mushroom Kingdom, he did not hesitate to give a Coin back to a Toad who dropped it or greet the Toads. He cares a lot about his brother Luigi, getting annoyed when people talk lowly about him, and he does not take kindly to those who are rude to him. He is shown to be confident in himself, sometimes too much, to the point of thinking he can handle a challenge despite having no idea how to, resulting in him getting himself injured in the process. Ironically, Mario has a distaste for mushrooms, as shown by him picking them off his pasta in disgust and refusing to eat a Super Mushroom. However, he outgrows his hatred of Mushrooms, allowing him to use them.
Mario is also shown to be very protective of Luigi and will fiercely defend him from anyone who bullies him. Some examples of this include Mario protecting Luigi from a bully during their youth and standing up to Spike, who insulted Luigi.
Speech[]
- "Oh, I got this. No problem."
- —Mario to Princess Peach, The Super Mario Bros. Movie
For a few scenes in the movie, a faint Brooklyn accent can be heard from Mario such as when dining with his family. Some fans have likened it to his counterparts from both the Super Mario Bros. Super Show and the 1993 Super Mario Bros. live-action film.
His lack of Brooklyn accent in most scenes in the film is due to the directors telling the actor, Chris Pratt, not to sound too much like the character Tony Soprano.[2] At the time, Pratt's Soprano-esque voice was praised as a "New York, Italian guy" voice by Penguin King voice actor, Khary Payton, before the accent was axed by the directors.[3]
In the film’s opening, Mario does briefly speak in a very similar Italian accent, much like his video game counterpart, for the in-universe commercial about of his and Luigi's company, Super Mario Bros. Plumbing.
Reception[]
Online[]
Pratt's voice has received negative reception from the internet. A comment included in articles states Pratt as the "prime example" of why voice actors must be hired for the role.[4] Another comment included in articles has criticised Mario's lack of Italian accent.[5] A comment from Tara Strong, a Canadian-American voice actress who played Hop Koopa in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, posted a tweet on the same day as the trailer release stating "It should be Charles."[6]
When asked if he wanted to play Mario in the movie, the game's original voice actor Charles Martinet said "Well it sounds like a marvellous thing, it sounds like great fun and if they invite me to play, I'll go in and play with great joy and happiness."[7]
Official film critics[]
The Los Angeles Times's Katie Walsh applauded the film for its humor and "eye-popping" animation. While she praised Black's performance as Bowser, she criticized both Pratt and Day's lead performances of Mario and Luigi as being "so unremarkable that it could have been anyone at all".[8] Calum Marsh wrote for the New York Times criticizing Pratt's performance as "grating" and "unctuous".[9] Kristy Puchko from Mashable commended the fan service and music but was critical of the characters and noted Pratt's lack of accent, commenting "whatever voice Pratt is doing isn't Brooklyn, and it isn't anything particularly specific, consistent, or exciting".[10] Screenrant's Molly Freeman described most of the voice cast as "fun" with Black's Bowser being a standout, while noting that Pratt's performance was "not so bad as to be distracting, but not strong enough to be at all interesting either".[11] Josh Spiegel from SlashFilm criticized Pratt's performance as Mario as being "blandly heroic".[12] IGN's Tom Jorgensen had slight criticism towards Pratt and Day's attempt at New York accents for Mario and Luigi as "certainly not going to be taking home any commendations from the good people of Brooklyn" and stated "There’s definitely been a flattening of the more cartoonish qualities". However, he applauded the actors for embodying each character's heroism and for a grounded delivery that "balances well with the fantastical trappings of the Mushroom Kingdom".[13] Brian Tallerico of Roger Ebert, a self-described lifelong fan, wrote that the vocal performances were "uniformly mediocre".[14]
Biography[]
Life in Brooklyn[]
Mario and Luigi at Brooklyn.
Italian-American Mario and his brother Luigi worked for Foreman Spike before they opened their new business, Super Mario Bros. Plumbing, in Brooklyn. After a routine job at an African-American couple's house became a disaster due to the couple's violent dog, Francis, Mario and Luigi saw a significant manhole leak reported on the news. The brothers then take it upon themselves to attempt to fix the broken water main. At some point, Mario and Luigi enter a Mysterious Pipe that lead to the Mushroom Earth. Mario found himself in the Mushroom Forest but Luigi ended up at the Dark Lands and was eventually taken hostage by Bowser.
Arrival at the Mushroom Kingdom[]
Mario met Toad at the Mushroom Forest, where he informed the Mushroom Retainer about his missing brother. Toad brought Mario to the Mushroom Kingdom to Princess Peach's Castle where Mario met Princess Peach. Surprised to meet another human, Peach took Mario to an obstacle course for him to complete. After she demonstrated to Mario how to complete the obstacle course, Mario failed the obstacle many times. When Mario nearly reached the end of the obstacle course, Peach acknowledged him. Mario, Peach and Toad went onto a trek.
Mario's journey[]
Mario, Peach and Toad at the Fire Flower Fields.
The trio journeyed through several locales such as Desert Area, High Cliffs, Waterfall Area and Yoshi's Island. They set camp at the Fire Flower Fields where Peach told Mario about her origins. Mario speculated that she may be from the same world as he was, though she didn't seem to agree on this.
Joining forces with the Jungle Kingdom[]
Mario in his cat form that helped him win a duel against Donkey Kong.
The trio arrived at the Jungle Kingdom where Peach requested Cranky Kong for the Kongs to join forces with the Mushroom Kingdom. He initially refused, but agreed only if Mario can beat his son, Donkey Kong in a duel. During the duel, Mario was getting badly injured, which caused Peach to grant him the Super Bell to transform into Cat Mario. Mario reigned victorious on Donkey Kong with his new power. Cranky Kong agreed that the Kongs join forces with the Mushroom Kingdom, letting her know they can return to the Mushroom Kingdom quickly through Rainbow Road with karts.
The trio and the Kongs rode their karts and bikes on Rainbow Road to return to the Mushroom Kingdom. However, they were ambushed by Bowser's army who learnt about their whereabouts. The Kongs were captured while Mario and Donkey Kong were swallowed by a Maw-Ray, leaving Peach and Toad in despair as they managed to return to the kingdom to warn the Mushroom Kingdom citizens.
Trapped inside the Maw-Ray, Mario and Donkey Kong shared their bonds with their issues with their fathers. Donkey Kong and Mario used the rocket from Donkey Kong's kart to escape the Maw-Ray.
Fighting Bowser[]
Tanooki Mario diverting the Banzai Bill to the pipe.
Mario and Donkey Kong intervened the wedding scene while Peach and Toad fought Bowser's guests while Bowser was frozen from the Ice Flower. They saved the prisoners from the lava. As Bowser broke free from the ice, Peach, Toad and Donkey Kong continued fighting while Mario used his Tanooki Mario form to divert the Banzai Bill to the warp pipe from where he came during his arrival from Brooklyn. This lead multiple Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser's Castle elements to appear in Brooklyn. An enraged Bowser emerges from the ruins of his ship to prevent Mario from getting a hold of the Super Star. Bowser successfully injures Mario as he taunts him before going to fight the others. A hopeless Mario sits in the "Punch-Out Pizzeria", thinking that Bowser was right about him being a "worthless, weak little nothing". As the dying commercial of his business started playing, Mario gained his courage to go after the Super Star and save Brooklyn. Luigi stood brave and helped out, protecting Mario from Bowser's attacks until they both got hold of the Star's invincibility. Mario and Luigi pummeled Bowser and ploughed his army. Peach then followed up with using a Mini Mushroom on Bowser and trapped him in a glass bottle.
Brooklyn's victory[]
The citizens of Brooklyn celebrated Mario and Luigi's victory over Bowser. Mario and Luigi moved into a new residence in the Mushroom Kingdom as the both of them get ready on a whole new day together. They can use the pipe to return to Brooklyn whenever they want.
Behind the scenes[]
Creation and development[]
Shigeru Miyamoto came up with the idea that Mario should not like mushrooms as he thought it would be funny.[15]
Trivia[]
- Despite Chris Pratt playing the role of Mario, Charles Martinet appears as Mario’s father and Giuseppe.
- Similar to the TV cartoon and live-action versions of his video game counterpart, Mario isn't voiced by Charles Martinet, instead he is voiced by Chris Pratt. Fans have rumored that it is an imitation of Lou Albano's voice from the Super Mario Bros. Super Show, though no statements have confirmed this to be true.
- Unlike his video game counterpart, Mario doesn't get the chance to transform into Fire Mario once in the film.
- Mario states the reason why he and Luigi wear white gloves despite plumbing technically being dirty work, something that his uncle Tony makes fun of him for, is because Mario thinks it's a trademark and that it'll help them stand out.
- The construction site he parkours through at the beginning of the first movie bears a resemblance to World 1-1 from Super Mario Bros. from 1985, the very first official Mario game in the series.
- According the film's producers, Mario's grandfather was apparently at one point a boxer.
- He is the first member of Mario and Luigi's family to be hugged by Donkey Kong.
Games and other media references[]
- The "Mushroom Kingdom, here we come!" line is from Super Mario Adventures.
- Mario used a kart that is modeled after the Standard Kart M from Mario Kart Wii.
- Mario's pose in his render is based off miscellaneous artwork done for various Nintendo promotional media.
Gallery[]
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To view Mario (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)'s image gallery, click here.
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Quotes[]
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To view Mario (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)'s quotes click here.
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References[]
- ↑ The Super Mario Bros. Movie. YouTube (2022-10-07). Retrieved on 2022-10-07.
- ↑ Standford, Alesia (April 8, 2023) Chris Pratt says his first accent was rejected by The Super Mario Bros. Movie filmmakers because it sounded like 'Tony Soprano'. Daily Mail
- ↑ Velasquez, Raul (December 31, 2022) The Super Mario Movie Voice Actor Defended Chris Pratt's 'New York Accent'. GameRant
- ↑ Chris Pratt as Mario is a prime example of why you should hire voice actors for voice acting roles because what the hell is this. Twitter (2022-10-07). Retrieved on 2022-10-11.
- ↑ i think if we get angry enough we can force chris pratt to re-record all of his lines with an exaggerated italian accent. Twitter (2022-10-07). Retrieved on 2022-10-11.
- ↑ It should be Charles.. Twitter (2022-10-07). Retrieved on 2022-10-11.
- ↑ Charles Martinet Would Love to Voice Mario in Upcoming Illumination Movie
- ↑ Review: "Wahoo!" isn’t Quite Right for Mildly Amusing, Hectic "Super Mario Bros. Movie"
- ↑ The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review: This Ain't No Game
- ↑ 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' Review: What if Mario had Daddy Issues?
- ↑ The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review: Proof That Beloved IP Isn't Enough
- ↑ The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review: Nintendo's Big Screen Adventure Thrives On Being Unsurprising
- ↑ The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review
- ↑ The Super Mario Bros Movie Review 2023
- ↑ rawmeatcowboy (2023-06-05). Miyamoto suggested Mario shouldn't like mushrooms in the Mario movie (and more bonus facts!). Go Nintendo. Retrieved on 2023-06-06.
