This is the kind of theater-going experience that I can get behind. I am not one that likes to clap or cheer during a movie like the rest of the audience I saw this with, but I can certainly understand why they did, because when the movie focuses on the nostalgia, this is a lot of fun. Even with its flaws, this is something that I wouldn’t mind seeing a franchise grow from.

Like a lot of other people, I grew up with these games; however, the games never held a special place enough in my heart to warrant a movie being built out of it. What makes the movie work is building upon the strengths of their games. The animation is quite good and each action piece is worth your time and money. From the haunted mansion to the rainbow road, these scenes brought me back to specific moments in my life that I got the chance to relive. There were even nice, touching moments like Mario & Luigi’s relationship that will connect with viewers. Lastly, one of the stronger elements of this movie as well is the voice talent. The cast truly embody their counterparts, such as Jack Black, to really bring this adaptation to life.

The flaws mentioned are within the plot. With only about 90 minutes including the credits, the film’s plot could have improved. I don’t like giving away plots in my reviews, so I will keep things vague while also introducing how the plot could have improved. The way Mario & Luigi are introduced wasn’t exactly the way I thought it would be and the way they are introduced to this new world appears random. I know this isn’t the type of movie that needs a strong plot, but I spent more time than I should have questioning some of the plot choices.

Overall, its a pretty good time. It’s one of the better video game adaptions I have seen and I hope to see more going forward. In a world where everything seems crazy and we are all just trying to get by, I am glad that a movie like this can bring so much happiness to kids and adults alike.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)