Chris Pratt is not the Mario we need right now, but he's apparently the one we deserve.
Chris Pratt is not the Mario we need right now, but he's apparently the one we deserve
Alongside a raft of other news, Nintendo used its Directs event on Thursday to announce the voice cast for the Super Mario animated movie literally nobody asked for, and it's-a... weird.
Now let's be fair, here: Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong is perfect.
But Chris Pratt as Mario?
Chris Pratt. As Mario.
Chris PRATT! As Mario.
The lovable Parks and Rec schlub turned permanently-grimy, fully posable action figure is a deeply weird choice to voice the plucky plumber. It suggests Nintendo and studio Universal might be hoping to ape the unexpected success and energy of The Lego Movie, in which Pratt voiced the everyman lead. (The script is also by Matthew Fogel, who wrote that film's less-delightful sequel.)
It's such a weird choice specifically because it feels like a cynical joke: Oh yeah, of course they would cast the Least Beloved Hollywood Chris as Mario. Total Hollywood move to hire the generically strapping guy from the Jurassic Park reboots as this pint-size tradesman.
So much so, in fact, that people did actually make this joke back in 2020.
Even though Mario was revealed in 2020 to be canonically Japanese, not Italian (yes, really) Pratt's non-Italianness was a sticking point for some.
It's worth noting that the late great Bob Hoskins, who played the plucky plumber in the soon-to-be-retconned-as-beloved 1993 live-action adaptation, is also neither Italian or Japanese, but that likely had no bearing on why the film was a critical and commercial flop. (Charlie Day, who's playing Mario's brother Luigi, does have one Italian grandparent, according to his IMDb bio. Representation!)
Lmao I can't believe it. Though I'm sure he'll do good.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, Charles Martinet - The voice of Mario and Luigi (and others) in the games, is in this film also in a yet to be disclosed role.
ReplyDeleteLoving Jack Black as Bowser and Seth as Kong!!
I can see it now. Culturally appropriating a Italian plumber with a white guy playing the role.
ReplyDeleteI am torn. Cannot stand Pratt but love Jack Black.
ReplyDeleteHe’s gonna be amazing regardless 👌❤️
ReplyDeleteLook at them,there twins
ReplyDeleteGross. Chris Pratt and Jack Black, hard pass on this one.
ReplyDeleteBoooo.
ReplyDeleteReally, is this serious?
ReplyDeleteWhy? Why now? He's not even Italian.
ReplyDeleteThere are people, unknown and more like Mario than that.
Deletehttps://www.reddit.com/r/StoryBattles/comments/1x3c3j/story_behind_our_mario_lookalike_friend_here/
https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/90qtjd/this_man_who_looks_like_mario/
Nintendo from bad to worse.
ReplyDeleteMeme right?
ReplyDeleteThey say that when the cast is good, the movie is GARBAGE.
ReplyDeleteWhat times are we living my friends...
ReplyDeleteIndustries like Nintendo and others, showing they can do whatever shit they want whenever they want.
ReplyDeleteIs there any plausible reason for Chris Pratt to play Mario Bros.? why if not I can too.
ReplyDeleteLMAO
DeleteI hate whoever the casting director is for this, but more than that, I hate the Nintendo execs who were clueless enough to sign off on this. This alone makes it seem likely this will be an embarrassment the likes of which not seen since the “live action Dragon Ball” movie.
ReplyDeleteLove it thank you unlike others I know that Chris Pratt is a good man and has voiced one of my favorite characters Emmet brockoski and standing up for people thanks for hiring Chris Pratt
ReplyDeleteYeah, Chris Pratt, a widely successful actor, sure needs support in taking the role of Mario from the man who has voiced the character for 20+ years. Let's celebrate another case of voice actors being easily cast aside for big Hollywood names because that's always a success . /s
Deleteunless the story is of like a young teen mario, you robbed Charles Martinet. You don't need huge hollywood actors to VOICE characters, especially characters with established voice actors. It's wrong and it needs to be said louder and more often. A VA will always do a better job.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Funky Kong? Saving him for the sequel I hope. He could dance with the Rock King from Z64* that played his belly like a drum.
ReplyDelete*zelda64
The same visibility they're giving this shit now, they're the same ones they're going to give when the movie comes out, that's rubbish don't comment pretend it doesn't exist, because that's a meme.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is a depressing list of people who aren't voice actors. I smell a boycott coming
ReplyDeleteMashable is rubbish, but the title of the publication is the best.
ReplyDelete"Chris Pratt is not the Mario we need right now, but he's apparently the one we deserve."
Dame Judi Dench as Purple Shyguy
ReplyDeleteMeryl Streep as Birdo
Kenneth Branagh as Mouser
Robert De Niro as King Boo
Leonard DiCaprio as Pidgit
Daniel Day Lewis as Bob-Omb
Ralph Fiennes as Yoshi
Denzel Washington as Thwomp
Music by SUNN O)))
Written by Rob Zombie
Directed by Uwe Boll
Didn't care about the movie before but now I just can't wait to see this disaster unfold.
ReplyDeleteThis is literally such a terrible cast holy cow lmao
ReplyDeleteI only Care about Anya, and Key.
DeleteThe rest make no sense. USE REAL VOICE ACTORS
Italians rn
ReplyDeletehttps://imgur.com/a/4DA9m0n
Jack McBrayer as Waluigi
ReplyDeleteWill Forte as Dry Bones
Bill Hader as King K. Rool
Will Arnett as Diddy Kong
Christoph Waltz as Wario
Eric Andre as Waluigi's Cousin