Movie review
April 5, 2023 · 93 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Super Mario Bros. Movie follows Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi who get sucked into the Mushroom Kingdom, get separated, and team up with Princess Peach to rescue Luigi from Bowser. The core story is pure brotherhood, heroism, and video-game-style adventure with zero political talk or lectures. Peach is written as a tough, capable fighter and leader who trains Mario, which stands out as a light modern touch on her character but stays in service of the fun plot. No identity agendas, no institutional jabs—just nostalgic family entertainment that many called a refreshing non-woke hit.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Woke representation / casting
Standard game-faithful casting with no identity emphasis, swaps, or diversity pushes in story or marketing.
Woke political dialogue
Completely absent; every line serves adventure, humor, or brotherhood.
Identity-driven story themes
Light but noticeable recurring element in Peach’s arc as a strong, self-reliant fighter/leader; still background to the main brother-quest engine.
Western institutional / cultural critique
None present whatsoever.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant (Peach’s more active role was framed by creators as practical originality/game-inspired, not an ideological rewrite).
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Weak/fringe early Peach “girlboss” chatter only; overall reception celebrated the film as non-woke family entertainment.
Creator track record context
Mild kids-animation background with no activist pattern that aligns with this title’s content.
Production
