When I see negative critiques on the recent mario movie, they typically go along the lines of “the plot is too fast-paced” or “the characters and plot are too simple to be engaging.” But in every negative review, they still admit that it was good fun to watch for the art and animation. I think, in even the most critical of chastises of this flick, that they highlight the main reason for why this film was made.
In the link above is an interview between the director, Chris Meledandri and the primary consultant and inventor of mario, Shigeru Miyamoto. About halfway through, Meledandri explains Miyamoto’s focuses that he wanted to be wholly integrated into the film.
“One of the things that Miyamoto-san would keep us focused on is what an audience wouldn’t be getting from the film, which was the experience that they’ve had playing the game and that the richness and importance of their own experience playing needed to be replaced by other levels and layers of the movie experience.”
What Miyamoto wanted of Meledandri and his team at Illumination Studios is the enjoyment and fun of the Mario games be captured within the movie going experience. This intention was put into the production of every frame in the film. They weren’t trying to encapsulate in the movie anything complicated because mario isn’t complicated. They weren’t trying to cater to the croquettes and the diehard film fans. They just wanted to provide the audience a fun time. And they were successful in doing that as seen through the 96% Audience Score and the 56% Critique Score on Rotton Tomatoes.
by oliveoiltree
21 Comments
I can respect what they went for, since it is faithfully what we hoped for and a great first step for Nintendo’s cinematic journey… however, if we got a sequel that is just as fun as the first movie but with a story that is on par at minimum with the earlier Paper/ M&L RPGS or had galaxy level stakes/emotion, it would have been the best of both worlds.
people expected way too much plot. To quote Caddicarus….
“Have you ever played a Mario game before?”
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But is it not the point of an adaption to use what the new medium has to offer to expand on the source material?
The Mario movie is fun, sure, and in that regard it accomplishes what it sets out to do. But it’s so incredibly unambitious, and it essentially amounts to just being a Mario game you can’t play.
Entertainment and good storytelling are not mutually exclusive. I completely understand people enjoying the movie for being just fun, but it baffles me that this decision is defended as if Nintendo and Illumination had to choose between making a good story and making a faithful adaptation. Like… they can do both…
Well no shit. It’s mario after all
I think it was kinda boring
I thought it was a big standard illumination film. So just a 5 or 6 out of 10. Like its not in the conversation of best animation films. But if you like illumination film than Yeah this is that level
It indeed did not need to be complicated, but it could have been better. What we ended up with is a solid outline for a good story, but not a good story. And it’s not like the movie needed some extensive rewrites; You could add 15- to 20 minutes of character building/development dialogue and offer a satisfying experience for kids AND adults.
Miyamoto…kinda sucks huh? This is not a good argument at all. It’s a movie. Not a game.
Of course, because this old coot is at the helm! No story Miyamoto at it again! 😂😂😂
“Story bad” – Miyamoto’s legacy
I think a simple story is exactly what you want for this movie, but that doesn’t mean the story is phoned in either. Honestly you could take the same script and then slow down the plot a bit to fix the pacing, and you’d have a way better movie. >!For example, maybe Peach shouldn’t instantly just trust Mario. Maybe instead of a montage of them traveling to the Kong Kingdom, have a scene where they have to navigate obstacles to get there (y’know, like a Mario game?). Another easy fix I can think of is completely leaving out the detail of Peach being a human from Mario’s world. It’s a detail that isn’t even brought back up again. It feel jarring when Peach ends up in Brooklyn and has basically no reaction or questions, knowing this is probably where she came from. Also I would’ve liked a little bit less emphasis on power-ups. I appreciate them being in the movie, but I think the story would feel more satisfying if every problem wasn’t solved by a power up. Also, it’d be a much better message (powerups are great, but ingenuity can be even more powerful).!<
These would be my minimum changes (without removing much) to take the movie from something that is just fun for fans to something that the general audience would at least think is “ok.” If I had a chance to make more aggressive changes, I’d probably remove a lot more from the movie in exchange for developing what’s leftover a bit more.
All this is to say, I really think they didn’t put enough effort into this script. It’s like a boardroom of fans decided what references/easter eggs they wanted to put into the movie and then just figured out how to get a plot to incorporate them all.
A plot doesn’t need to be complicated to be substantial, it’s about the execution. And from what I hear, the movie doesn’t quite nail it in some aspects.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Mario/comments/12hadiy/i_made_a_meme_i_havent_seen_anyone_be_overly/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
A lot of adults in here pointing out the flaws in the movie, I can’t disagree with a lot even though I enjoyed it myself. But I took my 3 year old Mario obsessed son, who’s never even played a Mario video game, and he has been besotted with everything about it since we saw it.
I mean I’m talking as a dad who, when tucking his son into bed, also has to tuck in and kiss 5 Mario dolls including the new giant poseable movie one haha
I just wish that Peach was Peach.
So i went to go watch Mario with just my brother and I (Both 30). Being able to see Mario peaked my interest and I heard about how good it was.
Overall: I lowkey feel like its a waste of money unless you have kids. (Yes i get thats the target audience)
I almost feel like they played it way too safe, in the sense of character development and humor. I get it thats its for children, but they couldn’t slide any adult humor in there at all?
The main story with Mario and Peach on an adventure just seemed…meh…kinda weak? No real bonding, just smiles after passing trials.
The charm, animation, and references were all superb! Visually the movie is engaging and its just nice to see. But the story definitely made the movie feel boring. I think the movie could’ve gone better if it involved Mario + Luigi saving Peach from the get go. Better ways to show off their strengths/weaknesses, and have some actual decent dialogue with each other. Not worth paying for if your all adults, I’d say wait until its free. 6/10
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EDIT: Forgot to mention Toad definitely kept the movie funny and refreshing, hes the real MVP
Fun movie for Mario fans for sure. I don’t think that means they can’t have a simple story that hits a little more like a Pixar story.
And it was just that
BUT THEY DON’T GO INTO DETAIL ON WHY THE MUSHEOOM KINGDOM CAME INTO EXISTENCE AND THE ENTIRE BACKSTORY OF TOAD. 0/10 THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HISTORICAL BACKSTORY OR TOP NOTCH LOGIC IN THIS NARRATIVE
Just because the movie succeeded in what it was going for doesn’t mean it’s a good movie. Look at Hallmark Christmas movies. They’re all basic, boring, braindead movies meant to just make their target audience feel warm and happy and cozy around the holiday season, and guess what…they’re great at that!
But if you asked me to review one of those pieces of garbage, I’m gonna be honest and call it a piece of garbage.
The same applies, to an extent with this movie. The target audience of this movie is hyped to see him in a full-fledged movie and will have a good time with that, but that doesn’t make it a good movie.