Super Mario Bros is impressively nonsensical. Its simplistic narrative has convoluted holes and heavy exposition. There are awkward relationships, flat characters, no tension, flimsy backstories, and a feigned theme. Rushed cliches and humor are cringe. Plot points are contrived, MacGuffins are weak, motivations are nonexistent, dialogue is inane, and the script is both bloated and empty. Hoskins and Leguizamo have chemistry while Hopper offers self-aware ham, but it's all one-note with clumsy supporters. Super Mario Bros fundamentally fails by abandoning its source, creating a chaotic story, and producing artificial emotions. Its void of humanity is equally numbing and baffling.
Technically, Super Mario Bros is misguided. Its production design does elaborate and unique worldbuilding, yet it's unsightly and clashes with the childish writing. The effects are varied but their quality is consistently poor. Hoskins is a fitting cast but everyone else is unessential. The music mostly feels repetitive and confuses the mood. Its sound is distractingly silly, the editing has jumbled pacing and aimless momentum, and its brief cinematography techniques are outweighed by ugly colors and cluttered framing. Overall, Super Mario Bros doesn't know its own goals. Its tone, craft, and story are frantic messes. It's fascinating just how misplaced every ingredient is.
Writing: 2/10
Direction: 1/10
Cinematography: 3/10
Acting: 4/10
Editing: 3/10
Sound: 3/10
Score/Soundtrack: 3/10
Production Design: 4/10
Casting: 5/10
Effects: 4/10
Overall Score: 3.2/10
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