jasynp

There are so many Easter eggs and fun tributes to the Mario franchise. My entire family saw it together with all different levels of Mario experience, and we all really enjoyed it for different reasons. Not all movies need complicated plots or a secret villain reveal to be enjoyable. Where the movie excels is creating the universe and building on the characters that we know so well. They were able to translate the characters in a smooth comedic way (especially Bowser) and it sets up many different storylines for future movies or other media. I highly recommend watching it in the theater as there are many small details rendered into the scenes that brought a smile to my face.

Cheesy, silly, b-movie fun. The movie is nostalgic of childhood friends and games. It centers around a bachelor party weekend with an eclectic mix of friends/acquaintances during an 'invasion of the body snatchers' plot. The paint-by-numbers storyline full of small town characters keeps it an easy watch. The acting (or at least the English dubbing) and the production value is great for a B-movie. The writing and character development let's you root or boo certain people and there is an mid-credits scene featuring one such character that shows how far they have come. Full of laughs, and crude humor, it's a delightful film to watch.

What a unique interpretation of this genre with a minimalist approach. If you enjoyed Donnie Darko's in-house philosophy of the rules, you will really enjoy this movie. The cast is able to maneuver the subtle changes that unfold and it has a strong rewatchability. Once the action starts, it's suspense is in the build and your questioning of reality. I won't spoil anything, but they are able to close the story very nicely. After you know the twists, the second watch is actually better than the first. Stick with the opening table talk scene as it's more helpful the second time around. I highly recommend immersing yourself into the storytelling and you will be glad you went on the ride.