Lets-a Go! The final Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer has dropped and it’s a big one.
The trailer shows us the most we’ve seen of the Mushroom Kingdom so far, and we like what we see. In a special Nintendo Direct on March 9, the final trailer finally gives us information about the film’s plot.
In a cold open, we’re first treated to the sight of Luigi trapped in a cage discussing his fate with what appears to be Lumalee from the Super Mario Galaxy games. This time, Bowser has kidnapped Luigi in what appears to be a twist on the traditional plot where Mario saves Princess Peach from the dastardly Koopa King. We see Mario — still sounding very much like Chris Pratt —!team up with Peach and Donkey Kong in order to save his brother.
A previous trailer introduced Donkey Kong while referencing the tournament-style Super Smash Bros. game franchise and this time, we see a ton of Mario Kart references while hordes of cars race down Rainbow Road. Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. aren’t the only games referenced; in true side-scroller fashion, Donkey Kong and Mario run along a path filled with coin boxes (complete with what appears to be fire flowers) and floating platforms.
The Mushroom Kingdom looks absolutely stunning, and our first glimpse at Rainbow Road looks just as hectic as we had hoped, with shells pulverizing cars and Mario hopping from vehicle to vehicle (is this a Mario Kart: Double Dash!! reference?). While we still have a little under a month to wait, we think it’s safe to say the new movie will easily be an improvement over the failed 1993 Super Mario Bros. film.
Before the first trailer even dropped, there had been criticism over the film’s casting as fans feared Pratt wouldn’t be able to deliver a Mario as iconic as the one in the games. We wouldn’t say those fears have been allayed just yet — although this trailer shows us the most acting we’ve seen so far —but we’re hopeful the star-studded cast isn’t as bad a match as the internet seems to believe. Besides Pratt as Mario, the film stars Anya-Taylor Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong.
Almost the entire cast has gotten some flack for their voice-acting, but some cast members, like Jack Black as the notorious King Bowser, have been singled out for great performances.
We can’t wait to hear everyone’s thoughts when The Super Mario Bros. Movie finally hits theaters on April 5, 2023.