In January 2018, the company Nintendo, creator of the saga Super Mario formalizes the information: an animated film centered on the story of the red hero in blue overalls will be released on our big screens. After this important news, not much new in the pipes. It will be necessary to wait four years to be able to admire the end of a mustache intended to be projected in the cinema.
Released during a special Nintendo Direct on Thursday, October 6, 2022, the film’s trailer Super Mario Bros. the film, made almost everyone agree. We see Bowser, the iconic villain of the saga, furiously attack an army of penguins trying to defend a star. Then we discover Mario, propelled for the first time to the Mushroom Kingdom, and welcomed by Toad.
It must be said that the idea of yet another approximate adaptation of a video game work could upset Mario admirers. If the majority of fans seem reassured in the face of attractive images, designs that meet expectations (or almost), other elements have not really won unanimous support. Before being able to watch the crazy adventures of Mario in the cinema, a little look back at the relationship between the famous plumber and the cinema before the release of the feature film.
A dubbing star, a much criticized choice
Important point of contention of this trailer presented on Thursday, October 6, 2022, the dubbing. On the American voice side, the presence of Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) to interpret Mario is far from having convinced. Many, including the American actress Tara Strong who officially doubles as Harley Quinn, would have preferred to hear the original voice of Mario in the video games, that of Charles Martinet.
An iconic stamp, present since the beginning of the Super Mario saga which was born in 1983. Even if he does not double the main hero, Charles Martinet should be present for a few cameos in the feature film. However, to alleviate this frustration, some Internet users have had fun reconstructing a teaser where the voice of Charles Martinet replaces that of Chris Pratt using artificial intelligence. The result has already been viewed more than 2 million times on YouTube since October 8.
On the French version, the feedback is much more positive. Internationally, some American fans even say they want to watch the film in French. The main voice goes to Pierre Tessier, official voice actor for Ryan Reynolds, and seems, for the fans, closer to the original.
The plumber’s posterior at the heart of the debate
We remember the reactions provoked on the occasion of the first trailer unveiled by Sega for sonic the movie in 2019. The original design of the hedgehog, considered too human, was very bad with fans. The trailer then received a slew of red thumbs on YouTube (back when those were still visible), which forced the film’s director to redesign the character.
On the side of his great rival, Mario has not escaped criticism of his appearance either, focused on one detail: his less plump buttocks. On the occasion of a first image unveiled by Nintendo, Internet users criticize a significant difference in morphology with its initial design. Some find it fun, like this Twitter user, who comments: “Remember what they took from us”gathering more than 590,000 likes.
Remember what they took from us pic.twitter.com/F7WINr16nk
—Fir (@SimplyFir) October 4, 2022
A second feature film for Mario
Few remember it, but the story between Mario and cinema is not new. In 1993, a free adaptation was released in theaters. This is one of the first films dedicated to a video game franchise. The plot then religiously follows the scenarios played out on our consoles: Super Mario Bros. features the plumber brothers, Mario and Luigi, dealing with the kidnapping of Princess Daisy by King Koopa.
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Despite the presence of prestigious actors such as the late Bob Hoskins (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and Dennis Hopper (EasyRide), the sauce does not set. Scenario and fragile interpretations, lack of fidelity compared to the original game, the film will be a major failure at the box office, in the United States as in France. This critical and commercial “flap” will create in passing a relative reluctance on the part of the Nintendo company with regard to adaptations.
The video game consolidates its place in the cinema
The excitement around this announcement confirms the breakthrough of video game licenses in the 7th art. Audiences accustomed to dark rooms were able to see, among other things, assassin’s creed and Ratchet and Clank in 2016, or sonic the movie in 2020 and beyond Sonic 2 the movie in 2022. In 2023, it’s Mario’s turn to try his luck on the big screen again, 30 years after a first unsuccessful attempt.
An event awaited by the Nintendo community, which should not struggle to find its audience as soon as it is released. In comparison, the first cinematic adaptation of Sonic made the week of its release one of the best starts for a video game at the cinema in France, with 771,000 spectators. Super Mario Bros. the film will bet on its lucky star – and perhaps on the possible changes that could occur after this first trailer – to seduce when it is released next spring.
“Super Mario Bros. the Movie”, produced by Illumination Entertainment. Release scheduled for March 29, 2023 in France.