While it’s colourful, fast paced, and full of items I recall from the Nintendo games universe, it wasn’t my most favourite animated film in a while. Wasn’t awful, wasn’t all that good either. My kids, and my much younger niece, and nephew both enjoyed it a good deal. They are the target demographic for this kind of frenetic, disjointed, run and gun marathon of consecutive short(s) like scenes that could sort of coalesce into a full movie, if you approach it generously. Again, not my bag, but it looked great in iMax. Kids hate 3D so we went regular version.
I feel the first Mario was far more story centric, and I appreciate that. This one felt short on plot, and story, to cram in as much spectacle as possible. Plus other characters, objects, things that the nes crowd would feel nostalgic for. That’s not me, so it feels a tad disjointed in spots, where I imagine nostalgia was supposed to make a connection, or fill in the blanks. Certainly looked cool while it was all going haywire.
I guess if you uber there, and had taken some edibles it would be a much more fun experience. Watching the main characters run, dip, dodge, and dive for 90 minutes got a little boring (for me – again, I’m not the target market for this stuff anymore) I did check my phone for the time on at least three occasions. Do with that information what you will.
All of the children eleven and under were transfixed by the flashing lights, loud noises, fast cuts, and breakneck pace. It seemed to keep them in their seats, facing the screen. They shrieked and cheered at mostly the appropriate times. I imagine it will do fairly well for itself at the box office.
Greatwall Studios Graphic Design 