Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Directors: Phil Lord and Chris Miller
Writer: Chad Taylor
Based on Nintendo characters
Cast: Paul Rudd, Rachel McAdams, John Mulaney, Keith David, Mila Kunis, Jon Lovitz, Glenn Danzig
Plot: In 1941, Mario (Paul Rudd) is a down-on-his-luck plumber in Brooklyn. He works with his younger brother, Luigi (John Mulaney). Their Italian-American identity is the source of ire given the war going on in the world and the perception about Italians. News hits about Pearl Harbor and Mario decides that he wants to join the fight, to prove that he fits in. At 17, Luigi is too young to join the army so this is the first time in their life they will be apart. Mario becomes trained as a pilot and joins the war in the Pacific. However, he experiences a plane malfunction and his plane crashes on a mysterious island.
Lucky to survive, he tries to contact his comrades but finds himself cut off from any communication. He surveys the land, which is bursting with color and proliferated in mushrooms. He starts to create an “S.O.S” for anyone flying overhead but is swarmed by anthropomorphized mushrooms. Mario is hesitant to talk to them but their leader, Goomba (Glenn Danzig), tells him they are here to take him under arrest. Mario says he means no harm. In fact, he is looking for a way to leave! This isn’t good enough for Goomba, who has his minion mushrooms tie Mario up and take him into Mushroom Kingdom.
Back in Brooklyn, Luigi hears the news that his brother has went missing in action. While his family is heartbroken, Luigi holds out hope that Mario is still alive. He begins to train himself to be a pilot, so that he can join the Air Force and find his brother. His Irish-American high school sweetheart, Daisy (Mila Kunis), is worried about him but he insists that this plan will work.
Mario is transported through the Kingdom, taking in the varied colorful scenery while trying to escape from being tied up. However, before he can, they arrive at the castle of the Mushroom King (Jon Lovitz) (who looks like a normal human).. The King is surprised as there has not been a visitor to the Kingdom in thousands of years. He instructs his guards to investigate how this might have happened. Meanwhile, he deliberates what to do about Mario. Mario swears that he accidentally landed here and, if they’d like him to leave, they should give him time to fix his plane. The King is obviously very suspicious of this. However, just as he is going to give the prisoner his punishment, Mario is able to get ahold on his wrench and use it to finally wriggle free from the hold. He fights off the mushroom soldiers with the wrench and escapes the King’s court.
As he tries to navigate his way through the castle, he becomes lost before he can escape. He ends up opening a door to a room covered in pink. He looks around to see if anyone is here before seeing a short mushroom-human hybrid standing at his feet. Before he can say anything, a blonde girl hits him from behind with a lamp - knocking Mario out.
We shift focus to a murky underwater kingdom, populated by turtle-like creatures called Koopa’s. In the war-room of this kingdom, the top brass meet to discuss strategy. In enters their evil leader, Bowser (Keith David). Bowser informs his generals of the latest news: the protective shield around Mushroom Kingdom has somehow finally been penetrated and this could be their chance at finally striking back against the island that has been polluting their water. His generals are skeptical but Bowser won’t take no for an answer - it is finally time to attack.
After waking up from briefly being knocked out, Mario finds that mushroom-human creature sniffing his face. The girl yells “Toad!”, causing the pet to stop. Mario discovers that he is still in the same room and has not yet been caught by the guards. The girl introduces herself as Princess Peach (Rachel McAdams), daughter of the Mushroom King. But he can call her Peach. He asks why she is being so kind to her father’s prisoner and she says that the royal lifestyle can get lonely at times. He says “ahhh” and says that she must be in her rebellious phase. She points to her short blonde hair and says that should’ve been a sign. He asks if this means she will help him escape. After some deliberation, she says it does.
In America, Luigi, Daisy, and their families celebrate his 18th birthday. He informs his parents that he is ready to join the war effort, but doesn’t say that his main goal is to find Mario. Daisy tells him that she is still worried about him but she knows he will come back in one piece. We see Luigi starting in the Air Force, like his brother, but he is already very skilled due to his self-training.
Peach hatches an escape plan for Mario from the castle. Before they leave, Toad holds on to Peach’s leg with sad puppy dog eyes. Mario says they can’t take it with them as it raises their chances of being caught. Peach, however, is unable to say no and puts Toad on her back. They make their way through the castle, quietly navigating the cracks and crevices before Toad sneezes, which alerts some goomba troops. They successfully fight them off. The King and Goomba patrol the halls but are unable to detect Mario, causing the King to chew out Goomba.
Mario and Peach finally make their escape and she is going to take him to a place where he can get away. As they travel, he asks about the island, as he is still not sure where he is. The talk then transitions to the crown and Peach says that she is next-in-line to rule but she is not sure if she is fit to be the ruler yet. Mario affirms her self-doubt by pointing out her poor decision-making, while pointing at Toad. Toad mouths gibberish Mario’s way. Peach leads him to a junkyard of old karts, small vehicles with special tricks up their sleeves. Mario finds that he can barely fit in his, which makes Peach laugh. They realize that this is their goodbye. He thanks her for helping her escape and she thanks him for getting one over on her father. However, before Mario can start his kart, a rumble is heard and they see droves of Koopa’s arriving in the distance. They swarm the castle, to Peach’s concern.Peach looks to Mario and asks if she can ask for one more favor before he leaves. Mario looks annoyed but acknowledges that he doesn’t even know if his plane will ever work again so he says he’ll help.
In the King’s court, Bowser enters and announces that he is there to overthrow Mushroom Kingdom. He gives his spiel about how the Kingdom has made an enemy of the Ocean and how their protective shield appears to have finally been opened up. The King murmurs to himself about Mario. Goomba is the last line of defense but he stands down and tells his soldiers to do the same, allowing Bowser and the Koopa Troopas to take over. They take the King hostage as the Troopas start to proliferate the Kingdom and turn its inhabitants to stone - making way for the new species. Bowser contemplates sending the King to live in the Ocean, to see how the other half lives (knowing full well that he wouldn’t be able to survive after a few minutes).
Mario, Peach, and Toad traverse back to the castle and evade the Koopas as they do. Peach is heartbroken to see what is happening to her people. They arrive at the castle and hatch a plan to penetrate it just as they escaped. However, not far into their journey, they find themselves surrounded by the both Koopa Troopas and Goombas. Bowser instructs them to take these prisoners to the King’s Court as this is the Princess of the Kingdom. He changes his mind about Mario and says that he seems like a mere peasant. He instructs them to feed him to the big ape thing.
Mario is transported to the jungle, where they await the arrival of the beast. However, one of the Koopa Troopas arrives to tell them that it appears that the beast has escaped. They debate what to do with the prisoner but are all buffoons and clearly directionless without their leader. Goomba arrives and says that he knows what they can do with him. However, this stalling is interrupted by a flying sound and they look up to see a plane landing on a nearby shore. Goomba instructs them to hold off on the punishment and they make their way to the beach.
At the beach, Goomba approaches the new plane and out comes Luigi. Mario is delighted to see his brother and Luigi is obviously elated to see that his brother is still alive. Mario asks his brother if he brought his wrench with him and Luigi confirms. Goomba is confused by what is going on, giving Luigi enough time to hit him with the wrench. The brothers proceed to take out the Koopa Troopas with their wrenches and hug afterwards. Mario asks how he found him and Luigi says that he saw the “S.O.” on the beach and assumed it was close enough to “S.O.S.” that it was worth checking out. Luigi asks him if he is ready to leave but Mario surprises him by saying no. He made a promise and he’s still got work to do. He says that he needs Luigi’s help and Luigi trusts his older brother so he says he’ll help however he can. Mario smiles and wishes his brother a belated happy birthday.
Mario and Luigi battle with their enemies on the way back to the Kingdom. They continue on through the castle until they reach the King’s Court. They find that the Mushroom King and Princess Peach are tied up and being prepared to be sent down to the pits of the ocean. A scared Peach tells her father that she loves him. Mario and Luigi try to fight Bowser but he proves too powerful. Things look dire but Bowser suddenly stops in his tracks and wails in pain. We pan down to see Toad biting his leg. The brothers take advantage of this diversion. Luigi works on freeing the King and Princess while Mario distracts Bowser. Luigi frees Peach first and she joins Mario to fight Bowser. Bowser announces a change in plans and has his Troopas break the King’s legs. Peach, both heartbroken and angry, calls off Mario and Luigi and says that she will do this alone. Taking advantage of the weakness in Bowser’s leg, she engages in a one-on-one battle where she uses Mario’s wrench to prove victorious and saves her Kingdom.
Bowser and the Koopa Troopas are sent back to their homeland while all of the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom turn back to normal. The Mushroom King says that he feels unfit to rule and that he knows no one more fit to be ruler than his daughter. Peach is still unsure if she is ready for this spot but Mario convinces her that she is. As Mario and Luigi prepare to leave, Peach says that she will do it but with a catch. She wants Mario to stay and rule with her. Keep her company in this castle. Mario asks if this means she is asking him out and they both laugh, proceeding to kiss for the first time. Luigi looks bummed but Mario says that he is going to go home first to tell his family and country that he is alright. But he doesn't want to be a plumber in Brooklyn all his life and this place is exactly what he needs. Peach tells Luigi that he is welcome back to the Mushroom Kingdom anytime. Mario adds to that, saying it might be a nice honeymoon spot for him and Daisy (if they ever get married). Luigi’s eyes light up, wondering what Daisy is up to and eager to get back to her.
Cut to Times Square, New York. Daisy looks in bliss, going about her shopping. However, she sees a war poster and is saddened, thinking about her dear Luigi. Suddenly, a commotion starts as wooden barrels begin to crash in the streets. People scatter but Daisy finds herself isolated in the middle with nowhere to go. A rumble is heard as Daisy turns around to find herself in the shadow of a large ape-like figure.
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