Super Mario Bros. Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Plumbers get lost, find dinosaurs, and then fight Dennis Hopper… in New York?

🍿 Super Mario Bros.: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to the Mario Brothers

Mario Mario (Bob Hoskins) and Luigi Mario (John Leguizamo) are two Italian-American plumbers struggling to make ends meet in Brooklyn, New York. They face competition from a larger corporation and are trying to keep their small business afloat.

The Discovery of Dinohattan

While working on a plumbing job related to an archeological dig, Luigi encounters Daisy (Samantha Mathis), a student. Daisy possesses a mysterious fragment of a meteorite. This fragment is a key to a parallel universe called Dinohattan, a city populated by evolved dinosaurs ruled by the tyrannical King Koopa (Dennis Hopper).

Journey to Dinohattan

Daisy is kidnapped and taken to Dinohattan. Mario and Luigi follow, entering a bizarre and dangerous world. They quickly learn of Koopa’s plan to merge Dinohattan with Earth, which would give him dominion over both worlds.

Confronting King Koopa

The Mario brothers team up with Toad (Mojo Nixon), a musician who was devolved into a Goomba. They navigate the strange world of Dinohattan, facing Koopa’s henchmen, Iggy (Fisher Stevens) and Spike (Richard Edson), in their attempt to rescue Daisy and prevent Koopa’s evil plan.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Mario Mario (Bob Hoskins): A courageous Brooklyn plumber who journeys to an alternate dimension to rescue Daisy and save the world.
• Luigi Mario (John Leguizamo): Mario’s younger brother and fellow plumber, who accompanies him on the interdimensional adventure.
• King Koopa (Dennis Hopper): The tyrannical ruler of Dinohattan, who seeks to merge his world with Earth and conquer it.
• Daisy (Samantha Mathis): A paleontologist who is revealed to be a princess from the alternate dimension of Dinohattan.
• Iggy Koopa (Fisher Stevens): One of King Koopa’s bumbling and dim-witted henchmen.
• Spike Koopa (Richard Edson): Another one of King Koopa’s foolish and inept henchmen.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mario Mario: “Trust the fungus.” – Mario says this to Luigi when they are about to enter the strange world for the first time.
• King Koopa: “You think you can hurt me with your words?!” – Koopa says this during a confrontation, showcasing his dismissive attitude towards others.
• Luigi Mario: “I can’t believe we’re plumbers.” – Luigi says this to Mario, expressing his disbelief at their ordinary profession considering the extraordinary situation they find themselves in.
• King Koopa: “Daddy’s home!” – King Koopa says this during a confrontational scene.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $48,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $20,915,465
• Worldwide Gross: $20,928,292

💥 Super Mario Bros. Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I’ll be honest – I love this movie for all the wrong reasons. It’s so bad, it’s good! Seeing Bob Hoskins as Mario trying to navigate this weird, dystopian world is hilarious. The Goombas are terrifyingly funny and Dennis Hopper as Koopa? Pure gold. I know it’s nothing like the game, but that’s almost the point. It’s a bizarre fever dream of what a Mario movie could have been, and I’m here for it! Watching this movie really is a unique experience. Especially when you have friends over. I remember the first time I saw it. I was completely dumbfounded because it was so different than the game. But over time, I began to appreciate the movie’s audacity. It takes a lot to stray so far from the source material, and even though it doesn’t work, it’s still entertaining.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of cult classic films”
  • “Those interested in unique and unconventional adaptations”
  • “Viewers who enjoy 90s sci-fi adventures”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Some scenes may be too intense or frightening for very young children.”
  • “Contains mild violence and sci-fi themed action.”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “Super Mario Bros. is a well-intentioned but misguided attempt to bring a beloved video game franchise to the big screen. The film’s dark and gritty tone clashes with the source material’s colorful and whimsical world, resulting in a bizarre and ultimately disappointing experience. The actors do their best, but the convoluted plot and cheesy effects make it hard to enjoy.
• Metacritic: “The film is a strange and often incomprehensible adaptation of the popular video game. It lacks the charm and simplicity of the source material, replacing it with a convoluted plot and bizarre visuals. While the cast is talented, they are unable to elevate the film beyond its inherent flaws. Overall, Super Mario Bros. is a disappointing and forgettable cinematic experience.
• IMDb: “A flawed but fascinating piece of cinematic history. Its ambition is to reinvent the video game series, but the movie is a complete misfire due to it’s writing. Bob Hoskins tries his best, but the movie’s story makes it hard to enjoy

Audience Reactions

The movie’s bizarre interpretation of the Mario universe has gained a cult following over the years.: Despite its flaws, many viewers find the movie entertaining due to its sheer absurdity and unique vision.

Some viewers appreciate the film’s dark and gritty atmosphere, finding it a refreshing departure from typical kids’ movies.: While not faithful to the source material, the movie’s bold choices and creative liberties have earned it a special place in the hearts of some fans.

Overall Consensus: Super Mario Bros. is a critically panned film that has garnered a cult following due to its bizarre and unique interpretation of the beloved video game franchise. While it deviates significantly from the source material, some viewers find it entertaining for its sheer absurdity.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was a critical and commercial failure upon release, but it has since gained a cult following.”
• “Dennis Hopper described the filming experience as a ‘nightmare’ due to constant script changes and on-set disagreements.”
• “The animatronic Goombas were very expensive and difficult to operate, contributing significantly to the film’s high budget.”
• “The script underwent numerous rewrites, with elements of a darker, more dystopian story constantly being added and removed.”
• “Originally, Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo thought they were making a family-friendly kids’ movie until they arrived on set.”

🖥️ How to Watch Super Mario Bros.?

Super Mario Bros. (1993) is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms. Check Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu for viewing options and availability in your region. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray may also be available for purchase online and in stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Super Mario Bros., you might like these similar films:

• Masters of the Universe (1987): Another live-action adaptation of a popular children’s franchise that took a dark and unconventional route.
• Judge Dredd (1995): Shares the same tone of dystopian science fiction and action with a somewhat campy execution.
• Flash Gordon (1980): An earlier science fiction adventure with a campy and over-the-top style that resonates with Super Mario Bros.
• Jupiter Ascending (2015): A more recent example of a visually ambitious but narratively challenged science fiction film with a similar over-the-top sensibility.
• The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984): A cult classic known for its bizarre and unconventional approach to science fiction adventure, appealing to fans of films that defy categorization.

🛒 Super Mario Bros. Related Products

• Super Mario Bros. Movie (Limited Edition Blu-ray): A limited edition Blu-ray featuring restored visuals, bonus content, and exclusive packaging, perfect for collectors and fans of the film.
• Super Mario Bros. Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the original movie poster, capturing the film’s unique and memorable imagery.
• Super Mario Bros. Movie – Goomba Action Figure: A detailed action figure of the devolved Goomba from the Super Mario Bros. movie. Collectors and fans of the film can add this to their collection.
• Super Mario Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years: A comprehensive guide to the first 30 years of Super Mario Bros., detailing every game, character, and secret.

🎧 Soundtrack

Super Mario Bros. features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Almost Unreal” – performed by Roxette
• “Walk the Dinosaur” – performed by Was (Not Was)
• “Speed of Light” – performed by Joe Satriani

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Everything Wrong With Super Mario Bros Movie in 17 Minutes or Less

Okay, let’s be honest, the Super Mario Bros. movie is a bit of a mess. CinemaSins breaks down everything that went wrong in a hilarious 17-minute takedown. I can’t help but laugh at how many sins they find!

Is The Super Mario Bros Movie the DOWNFALL of Western Civilization? – A Review 🙂

Saberspark asks the big questions about the Super Mario Bros. movie with a huge over-exaggeration, but a great laugh. Is it the downfall of Western civilization? Probably not, but this review is definitely worth a watch for a good laugh and some solid analysis!

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