When it comes to the video games space, Nintendo is incredibly protective of its IP to an absurd degree. Over the past several decades, there have been countless efforts by fans and studios to pitch television and movie adaptations, or even fan games to the Big N, all for them to say no. Nintendo doesn’t want anyone to touch their IPs, so when news broke that they were allowing Illumination of Despicable Me fame to make an animated movie based on the Super Mario franchise, creatively titled The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it was seen as a big deal.
We’ve been fed a steady drip diet of discourse surrounding the film for the better part of a year. From Chris Pratt being announced as the voice of Mario, to the film being delayed from its holiday release window, Nintendo appears to have had a vice-like grip on any media leaks surrounding the film. But at New York Comic Con, and at a special Nintendo Direct yesterday, Nintendo revealed our first look at the film alongside some of its cast, the head of Illumination, and Shigeru Miyamoto himself.
And it’s fine. It’s just fine.
Most of the trailer focuses on Bowser attacking a kingdom of Penguins, and it’s a pretty cute scene. The penguins pelt him with snowballs that do nothing to faze him, as he burns the kingdom to the ground and takes a Power Star. Honestly, it’s a little weird seeing Bowser fully voiced by Jack Black nonetheless, but it works and he’s clearly having a ball with the role. Less can be said for Mario, who has only a handful of lines and…. he sure sounds like Chris Pratt.
It’s funny since earlier in the summer, Pratt said that his Mario would be unlike anything you’ve ever heard, but it sure just sounds like he’s talking with a slight Brooklyn accent. I mean it’s fine, I don’t really know what I was expecting from a teaser trailer like it, but The Super Mario Bros. Movie looks good enough and seems to be in decent enough hands. I don’t know if decent enough is worthy of the Nintendo seal of approval, but compared to his previous media appearances, it could be a whole lot worse.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie will release in theaters April 7, 2023.
