The popular video game comes to life in Illumination’s latest film which brings the Nintendo icon to life.

Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi are trying to start their own business after leaving their former boss Spike. Things aren’t exactly looking great for the brothers after a disastrous first job. However, when they have a chance to save Brooklyn after a main water pump breaks, little do they know they are about to embark on a new adventure. When the brothers end up in a pipe that takes them to a world like never before, they are separated in the chaos.

Luigi ended up in the Dark Lands, run by Turtle King Bowser while Mario had landed in the Mushroom Kingdom. There, he meets Toad, one of the residents who is willing to take him to Princess Peach when he tells him of Luigi’s disappearance. Mario must endure a series of tests and uses “power-ups” to find Bowser. Meanwhile, Bowser is hatching a plan to marry Princess Peach in his quest for world domination. Will Mario be able to rescue Luigi before it’s too late and will he be able to help Peach stop Bowser and save the Mushroom Kingdom?

Considering the backlash when it was first announced because of its casting, it turned out the backlash was completely a waste of time. This is one of the best animated films in recent films which actually brings not just the classic Nintendo characters to life, but an array of other classic characters to life with that Illumination element to the mix.

Chris Pratt voices the titular Mario, who in a commercial to promote the business, does the classic accent that he would be known for, while Charlie Day voices Luigi as the scared younger brother who disappears and ends up in his own little mini-adventure. That’s right. We get a taste of the video game “Luigi’s Mansion” in the movie and it’s a fun little appetizer to the main entrée, or adventure where Mario undergoes his training to become the “Super Mario” we all know and love with the help of Princess Peach, voiced as somewhat of a badass by Anya Taylor-Joy.

Seth Rogen brings the comedy to the role of the cocky legend that is Donkey Kong. He clearly has this love-hate bond with Mario after they engage in combat for the Jungle Kingdom’s army to join forces with the Mushroom Kingdom to take on the forces of Bowser, played by the always amazing Jack Black. After this film, you will never forget Bowser’s rousing romantic ballad “Peaches”. There is even an awesome nod to the “Mario Kart” video games that become reminiscent of Mad Max when they are ambushed by Bowser’s Army on a rainbow track.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is fun, wild, and gamers will definitely love the references as will cinephiles who may end up spotting films like Spaceballs and Mad Max in certain little areas. A great voice cast just adds the fun of it all.

WFG RATING: A+

Universal Pictures presents an Illumination Entertainment/Nintendo production. Directors: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. Producers: Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto. Writer: Matthew Fogel; based on the video games by Nintendo. Editing: Eric Osmond.

Voice Cast: Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Jack Black, Fred Armisen, Scott Melville, Khary Payton, Eric Bauza, Juliet Jelenic, Rino Romano, John DiMaggio, Charlie Martinet.