THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE Brings Iconic Family Fun

 

 Jeri Jacquin

In theatres today from directors Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, Nintendo, Illumination and Universal Pictures is the iconic THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE.

Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) have started their own business in Brooklyn but everyone seems to think they aren’t capable of making a success of it. When Mario sees that the city water main is broken, he sees this as an opportunity of a lifetime!

Discovering a tunnel of tubes, Luigi looks inside and disappears and when Mario goes into the tube he is sucked in as well. They try to hang on but both go different ways. Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom and met by Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and Luigi ends up in the Dark Lands.

Quickly captured and taken to their leader Bowser (Jack Black), he learns where Mario is and what Bowsers evil-love-laid plans are for Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). In the meantime, Mario meets Princess Peach explaining that he needs to rescue his brother. She reluctantly agrees but also needs to save the Mushroom Kingdom from a Bowser takeover.

Knowing they need help; they go to King Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen) of the Jungle Kingdom. To get help, Mario must tackle Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) and all too soon, Bowser arrives with his own army! Now, the battle to save the Mushroom Kingdom, as well as all the Kingdoms, and bringing brothers back together are intertwined and its on – well, you know, like Donkey Kong!

Pratt as Mario gets a chance to play one of the most iconic Nintendo characters and does so as only Pratt can. He takes us all away into the Mario character completely making it easy to forget whose voice you are hearing. Don’t worry, the voice change is all explained and then it’s off to the adventure and it certainly seems like Pratt had a good time because, well, everyone in the theatre certainly did.

Day as Luigi is the brother who goes along to get along and it is clear he loves being with his brother. A little more apprehensive and slightly less adventuresome than Mario, Day still gives us a character that would do anything for family. He is loveable and enjoyable which is how we have always seen him.

Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach is perfection. She is exactly what I believed she should sound like. She is strong, caring, compassionate and yet won’t hesitate to get in the middle of the action and show her stuff. Taylor-Joy gives us a powerful Princess Peach and the vocal performance is worth every moment the animated character is on screen.

Black as Bowser, I mean what can you say. He has always been known to take on different characters but as Bowser he is, oddly, strange, evil but with a soft spot of love that can be destroyed in a millisecond. Bowser made us laugh, shout and even ‘awwwwwwww’ for a few seconds mixed in with giggles. He is strong, he is loud and Black gave us a fantastic Bowser.

Rogen as Donkey Kong is absolutely fantastic. As a fan of that particular video game, he gave me everything in this vocal performance. I laughed, cheered, loved his comebacks and one liners (that will be added to our families film lines) and heart of friendship. Rogen gave all of that and I the next time I play Donkey Kong I’m going to hear him.

Key as Toad is fun, protective and has a heart full of courage. Wanting to be a part of protecting the Mushroom Kingdom, he just has no fear, not to mention how cute he is. Armisen as King Cranky Kong is a laid back but entertaining from start to finish.

Shout out to Jelenic as the blue Lumalee for the existential view of the film’s situations that totally cracked me up and to the penguins for their bravery and charm.  

Other cast include Charles Martinet as Mario/Luigi’s father, Khary Payton as the Penguin King, Jessica DiCicco as the brothers Mom, John DiMaggio as Uncle Arthur, Eric Bauza as the Tod General, Juliet Jelenic as the blue Lumalee, Sebastian Maniscalco as Foreman Spike, Kevin Richardson as Kamek.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

Illumination, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the industry’s leading producers of event animated films. Bringing the DESPICABLE ME franchise, to include Minions, features some of the world’s most renowned talent. To read more please visit www.illumination.com.

THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE is a film that everyone who loved/loves the Nintendo video games to see this weekend. Almost every iconic thing that is in the games has come to life and what would be expected. Illumination did not try to reinvent the wheel but instead is giving fans what they crave.

I absolutely love that nothing was out of place but instead brought to life in such a way that going on this ride is going to happen again and again. My family and I weren’t out of the film five minutes before my granddaughter, da Kid, asked excitedly, ‘can we go see it again right now?’ The answer is clearly going to be ‘yes!’ because, even at my age, want to see it again.

The film is colorful, vibrant and fun, with a storyline that clearly comes from the game (thank you writer Matthew Fogel, you have my heart!). The characters are iconic but also seeing the way they are brought to the screen is absolutely thrilling.

On a personal note, what a joy it was for me to see this film with my daughter and granddaughter. Nintendo has been a part of our lives since the first little gray box sat on our television. When da Kid was about four or five I introduced her to video games (I know, a grandma doing that – whaaaaaaaaaat?), and I taught her how to play the original Mario Bros.

Now we play Mario Kart 8 on her Nintendo Switch – if that isn’t love through the generations, I don’t know what is. What am I getting to? Well, just this, get your generational family together and hit the theatres this Easter weekend. Enjoy watching icons come to life in a way that is endearing, fun, exciting so that when everyone walks out, the joy is still on all faces.

In the end – let’s-a gooooooo!

PACIFIC RIM: Uprising Fights Once Again

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray/DVD and Digital from writer/director Steven S. DeKnight and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the return of the warriors of PACIFIC RIM: Uprising.

Jake Pentecost (John Boyega) is the son of hero Stacker Pentecost but not exactly following in his fathers footsteps. Making his own mark in what is left of the post-Kaiju world, he is constantly at odds with everyone. While trying to make another score in the abandon Jaeger warehouse, he meets fifteen-year-old Amara Namani (Cailee Spaeny) who has amazing hacking skills for a young girl.

Trying to run from the law, they both are going to be called for something a little more important. A different kind of Jaeger is running lose and more powerful than they have ever seen. Not understanding how this is happening, Jake is paired up once again with Nate Lambert (Scott Eastwood) to discover what is happening.

Dr. Gottlieb (Burn Gorman) is on it trying to discover where the source of the new Jaeger’s power is coming from. Of course Dr. Geiszler (Charlie Day) might have a little something to do with it all.

That’s when they discover that the Kaiju are not gone but instead have found a way to integrate quietly back into our world. Pentecost and Lambert immediately regroup and make it clear that there is no way the Kaiju are going succeed. Now they both call on the very smart Amara and the rest of the cadets to be just as creative as the creature who wants them gone.

It is a fight they are prepared for!

Boyega as Jake is a man who understands the large shadow cast by his father Stacker. Trying to find his own place in a world still recovering from the last Kaiju attack, he uses his smarts in the wrong way. When he realizes he is truly needed, the best comes out.

Eastwood as Lambert is full on Jaeger to the core. He wants what’s best for the planet and Kaiju aren’t it. He has a chip when it comes to Jake but it is something that isn’t as important as what is coming after them all.

Spaeny as Amara is smart, quick and doesn’t respond well to authority, something Jake knows a little something about. She may be young but her hacking skills are spot on and creating a Jaeger that needs one user is epic.

Gorman as Gottlieb is running like a chicken with his head cut off trying to figure out how this new Jaeger has such tremendous power. Day as Geiszler is a little bit off his game and seems to have a plan of his own. A little bit nutty and a little bit evil, this is Day’s chance to show us what he’s got.

Other cast include Tian Jing as Liwen Shao, Jin Zhang as Marshal Quan, Adria Ajona as Jules Reyes, Rinko Kikuchi as Mako Mori, Karan Brar as Cadet Suresh, Wesley Wong as Cadet Jinhai, Ivanna Sakhno as Cadet Viktoria, Mackenyu as Cade Ryoichi, Lily Ji as Cadet Meilin and Shyrley Rodriguez as Cadet Renata.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us all to experience and re-experience in our own home theatres. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

The Bluray and DVD contain the Bonus Features of Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Director Steven DeKnight, Hall of Heroes, Bridge to Uprising, Becoming Cadets, Unexpected Villain, Never Level Jaegers and much more!

PACIFIC RIM: Uprising gets the gang back together after years of believing that the war was over. What a surprise when a very large, very powerful Jaeger doesn’t have good will towards humans. The story brings out story twists and clashing metal battles that have one goal – to make sure the Kaiju never come back again.

The action is fast paced and doesn’t leave much time for dallying around but then again I don’t think the Kaiju are interested in talking. They are more along the lines of destruction and take over so go along for the battle of PACIFIC RIM: Uprising!

In the end – nothing will stop their victory!

HOTEL ARTEMIS Has a Unique Clientele

Jeri Jacquin

Coming this Friday from writer/director Drew Pearce and Global Road Entertainment is the story of membership to the exclusive HOTEL ARTEMIS.

It is 2028 and the city of Los Angeles is about to be taken over by riots when the residents decide they’ve had enough. In the middle of the mayhem are two brothers who pick the wrong time to pull a heist.

Shot up and running from the cops, the end up at the Hotel Artemis, an exclusive hotel that caters as a secret and safe place for criminals. Running the floor is The Nurse (Jodie Foster), a woman who clearly has seen the rear-end of life but knows her stuff. She is assisted by the very large Everest (Dave Bautista) who handles anyone that gets out of line.

The Nurse immediately gives the brothers the names Waikiki (Sterling K. Brown) and Honolulu (Brian Henry) according to their suites. Waikiki managed to avoid harm with a kevlar vest but brother Honolulu isn’t so lucky. She immediately goes to work but it definitely is a hot mess.

There are other guests already on the floor with the ever complaining Acapulco (Charlie Day) and the lovely Nice (Sofia Boutella). All The Nurse asks is that the guests have no weapons on the floor, no cops and don’t kill the other guests.

While working on Honolulu, she gets a call from Crosby Franklin (Zachary Quinto), the arrogant offspring of the Hotel Artemis owner Niagara (Jeff Goldblum). He threatens that if anything happens to his father, The Nurse will pay – dearly.

If she didn’t have enough to worry about with a full house, she catches on her camera a young woman calling out her name. Helping her is going to cause problems but it seems The Nurse specializes in solving the unsolvable.

As the riot moves ever closer, the Hotel Artemis starts to break down as the guests get nervous about the outside getting in. Maybe they should worry more about how to get out before that happens!

Foster as The Nurse is absolutely brilliant! I love this character with her frailties, flaws, uncertainties and memories yet she can put a body back together in no time flat. Spending years on this special floor, Foster’s character is run down having seen almost everything – almost. I have always been a fan of Ms. Foster’s (CONTACT is a guilty pleasure) and this character is just stunning.

Brown as Waikiki is dealing with a brother who consistently screws things up, a run in with a former lover and getting the inside scoop on the inner workings of Hotel Artemis. All of that will come in handy when what his brother innocently took turns out to the be one thing that will get them killed. Brown does a remarkable job of being smooth under pressure and never once raises his voice although he certainly has plenty of reason too.

Boutella as Nice is simple a woman who has a job to do and no one or nothing is going to get in her way. Knowing her worth, it is a joy to see her take on the employer! Day as Acapulco is annoying, narcissistic and out for himself – yet he does it so damn well.

Bautista as Everest is a body guard as well as a ‘health care provider’ who shows intense loyalty to The Nurse and doesn’t suffer fools. Knowing what is the right thing and actually doing it doesn’t seem to be an issue for him, he just wants to follow the rules and get through the riot alive.

Goldblum as Niagara has some explaining to do but then again it’s Goldblum, his mere presence tends to be enough for me. Quinto as Crosby needs to be slapped several times but that’s the parent in me talking, and Slate as Morgan shows us that there is more to The Nurse than anyone has ever known.

Other cast include Kenneth Choi as Buke, Josh Tillman as P-22, Evan Jones as Trojan Nash, Nathan Davis Jr. as Rocco and Ramses Jiminez as Tariq.

HOTEL ARTEMIS is a place where bad guys go to find safety and be patched up if needs be. What it doesn’t know how to do is survive this batch of crazy people in the middle of a rioting city. Managing to keep it together long enough for the audience to learn the back story in the 93 minute film is perfect, anything longer would have ruined it.

It twists and turns down the hotel hallways giving us quick stories and an equal amount of action to go along with it. I suppose what made me the happiest is that it wasn’t a prequel, sequel, retelling or remaking of another story. That in itself deserves high praises and I’m sending it their way.

Director Pearce gives us something different and although I followed along a little too easily, I had a good time. There is something to be said for quick and to the point and HOTEL ARTEMIS gives exactly that.

In the end – no guns, no cops and no killing the other patients!