The internet's response to the trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie was pretty darn good... except for the much-awaited debut of Chris Pratt as Mario. The response to his choice of voice (which is, well, Chris Pratt with a bit of a Brooklyn accent) was lukewarm, at best, not helped by Pratt's own lukewarm intro to the trailer in which he said he loved stomping Koopas in the arcade game — which, by the way, is impossible; they didn't have Koopas in the arcade game, actually.
But it turns out that a lot of people out there think that Mario sort of sounds like... Linda Belcher from Bob's Burgers.
You can't unhear it, be warned:
We already know what you're going to say. "It was just one line!" "Pratt sounds FINE, you're all just having a slow news day." "You're just jumping on the Pratt-hating bandwagon for clicks." "I'M VERY TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT THE STUPID MARIO MOVIE." Listen, we get it. One line sounding a bit like another cartoon character? Not the worst thing in the world. And Pratt probably sounds different in the rest of the movie. Probably.
But if we have to watch one and a half hours of Linda Belcher inside a short, pudgy plumber's body? We're going to have a very weird time at the cinema.
What do you think? Does this ruin Mario for you? Is Pratt's voice fine, actually? Are you more likely to watch the movie now? Tell us in the comments.
Comments 97
I think someone's mind was already made up before he uttered a word hahahahah.
I watched the Bob's Burgers Movie the other night, i didn't realise this till now…
Bobs Burgers is probably the unfuniest show in the history of garbage shows.
Now I cant unhear it
Peoples always like to find the way to blame every trivial things from Mario movie.
Back off, haters.
If you really disappointed by the cast of Mario movie just hush, let other peoples enjoy the movie.
I also heard a little Dwayne Johnson in Jack Black’s Bowser. “I do not.”
He's just not a good fit for Mario. But for a Bob's Burgers film? Why not.
People are really blowing this out of proportion. I'm sure it will be fine. Also, if there is 10 mins of Jack Black in that movie, it will be worth it!
Well seeing as though Chris Pratt couldn’t do an Italian accent for fear of offending everyone he did the best job he could. I mean what is Mario sound like when he’s not Charles martinet? Exactly we don’t have a back up voice so I think he did a great job
Oh wow, clicking this article I couldn’t help but think “it can’t sound THAT similar to Linda” but after listening to it he really does.
@Rika_Yoshitake never listen to anything Family Guy says
That 3 seconds of mario voice we heard definitely wasn't great, but the comparisons seem fairly random. Honestly Mario is pretty famous for not really speaking, so no voice will be perfect. I would have thought his movie voice should be a bit more 'rugged', but I'll need more than that short clip to have a strong opinion.
In general (even though Bowser's voice is awesome) I would have preferred professional/specialized voice actors rather than e.g. famous movie stars.
@Diogmites Mario beats Bowser at the end
@nymbosox well there’s Bob Hoskins and Captain Lou Albano, both of which did NY accents (well, one of them was his real accent). But as I’ve said elsewhere I prefer that (Mario is from Brooklyn, not Italy!) so I’m fine with Pratt’s version, at least conceptually.
I'm not particularly fond of Chris Pratt voicing Mario, but I'm gonna need to hear some more dialogue before I can properly pass judgements.
Not impressed so far, and the Linda comparison doesn't help. But I'm still leaving wiggle room for him to win me over yet.
A rather insulting comparison for Chris Pratt
Lol it really does sound like her. that's amazing.
@Rika_Yoshitake You sound like the kind of person who doesn't like internet memes because they're not as clever as a British comedy show.
K O O P A S
FRICK NOW I CAN'T UNHEAR IT EITHER THANKS NINTENDOLIFE
@BoilerBroJoe i should have elaborated animated voice overs lol. But Bob Hoskins…yeah we dont talk about that ala Fight Club lmao!
@BoilerBroJoe This! Reminded me of the older TV show/cartoons and movie — which I also prefer.
Martinet’s voice work is classic, but the stereotypical Italian accent (and higher pitch) is better suited for short sound clips in the games.
If he worked on his Mario voice for the same amount of time he spends erecting wooden crosses then perhaps it wouldn’t sound so phoned in.
@KoiTenchi Megaman 6! Represent!
But I can’t unhear it either now either. My sister suggested this to me after I texted the trailer to her too. I can’t wait for all the mash-ups.
Okay, now this has me cracking up.
"...Are you more likely to watch the movie now?"
<raises hand> Oh hell yeah. I was solidly lukewarm about this whole deal before, but this? This does put a smile on my face.
Man, first they remove his ass then they make him sound like Linda from Bob's Burgers, the Bing Bing Wahoo Man can't catch a break!
Fandom is both toxic and incredible stupid. Yeah, he's going to sound a bit different from the 9 lines of dialog he has in the games.
At least he didn't come out and say "so long, gay bowser"
The trailer itself makes it pretty clear this isn't a halfassed effort and the people behind it understand the Mario "feel". Interesting choice to stick to the cartoon dude from real life New York, but all and all what we saw was pretty encouraging that yes, this will in fact be a movie about Mario.
Only question left is will he be a plumber or a construction worker, or will it be different based on where it's released.
How'd you manage to make 10 articles about this movie in like a day
@Judal27 They didn't plan to make 10 in total, but the Steam Deck article totally backfired and now they need a new distraction so here we are.
Like I said, this is going to be NLife for at least the next 6 months, pointless articles with a couple of reviews sprinkled in.
I've never watched that show and just based on the name alone i never want to. What the hell kinda name for a show is bobs burgers? What's next bobs butt crack?
@locky-mavo A broken clock is right twice a day, yet you don't hear it bragging.
complete upgrade
not seeing a problem here
I think Chris Prat did a great job. Also, MARIO FINALLY HAS A NECK in the movie, which he does not in the games. Why is no one talking about that?
I really haven’t heard enough of is voice to make an option on it, but the 2 lines we heard were definitely not the best ones to choose to show his voice off. I still wouldn’t want to hear Charles high pitch Mario voice for 2 hours. It’s ok if he doesn’t sound like Charles, the tv show didn’t ether, and people watched that, it’s awesome that the French dub does, and he is really talented, I’m just saying they don’t all need to.
@Judal27 One word, twitter.
Oh God I didn't hear it at all at first but it really does sound like Linda.
Still waiting to hear a full coherent speech or conversation than two one liners though.
Mario: Linda
Bowser: Louise
Toad: Gene
Peach: Bob
Luigi: Tina
That’s depressing
Just recently on r/mytimeatportia, someone complained about suddenly realizing that their character's NPC spouse sounded like a Bob's Burgers character to them. So forgive me for suspecting that this may have less to do with Pratt's voice and more with us fans. And Bob's Burgers.
@SoapMonki because we're busy discussing how he doesn't have a prominent tush.
@GrailUK No doubt. And it’s amazing how you can read two sentences into an Nintendolife article and know exactly who wrote it.
Eh, to me it’s more like Pratt’s doing a bad Rocket Raccoon impression than Linda.
This tracking may actually get them to rerecord. lol
@nessisonett What’s with all this Chris Pratt hate? I never knew the whole story. Is it because he goes to church? He never struck me as a racist sort so I don’t see him burning crosses.
On topic: I can’t unhear the Linda comparison now. I probably would like it better if he just used his real “every man” voice. It’d probably work better than trying to do an accent.
@HotGoomba What kind of xenophobic crap did you just post? Get a grip on your life dude.
@brandonbwii the entire drama is that people thought he donated to a church that doesn't support lgbtq, but they were WRONG. There might be some other stuff but that's the main thing that nobody realizes he never donated
@Rika_Yoshitake
That person made a comment implying you enjoy British comedy ... and that's somehow Xenophobic?
Oh you precious precious child.
@Waluigi-Donut I think the Rock could have done a great Bowser but Jack Black surprised me with how good his Bowser voice sounded.
Was way more rocket raccoon to me
@Anti-Matter "just hush, let other peoples enjoy the movie."
But you don't do that when it comes to voicing your dislike for games.
For example, you literally have said things like, 'I hate M rated shooter games', and things of that nature in the past.
@Anti-Matter I agree with you. And also if the haters don't like it, then they shouldn't see the movie instead of complaining. Problem solved.🤷♂️
In the Italian dub of the trailer, the Mario voice is spot on!!
It was just one line! Pratt sounds FINE, you're all just having a slow news day. You're just jumping on the Pratt-hating bandwagon for clicks.
I'M VERY TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT THE STUPID MARIO MOVIE.
There actually were goombas in an arcade Mario game. It was a cabinet with Super Mario World and some Tennis game (presumably titled “Super Tennis”.)
I found a photo of it and I guess F Zero was on there too but I don’t recall that. It was in my local grocery store so I saw it very often as a kid.
So there, @kategray!
But yeah, we all know what Chris really meant…. We see you, Chris.
@Eagly 100% this. People are making opinions on the voice too early when we've only only heard two small lines.
Not surprised at all that got made lol
@Eagly
From my opinion, Mario voice by Chris Pratt was okay.
I have no negative feeling with his voice, it sounds neutral for me.
I can forgive not having an Italian accent, of course Mario wouldn't have one because he's from Brooklyn not Italy, but the fact that he sounds like Bob's wife from Bob's Burger is unexcusable. Hopefully they will redub his voice before the release like how they changed Sonics look for the first movie.
Chris Pratt does not even sound like Mario at all
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@Eagly
I mean I never knew about Chris Pratt but my first impression about new Mario voice was okay, not bad in my opinion. I knew it sounds different than Charles Martinet but I still prefer a neutral male voice rather than fake high pitched voice for entire conversation.
The movie quality we will know after we watch it by ourself so it's too early to say Chris Pratt voice as Mario was a crap just because he doesn't have voice like Charles Martinet.
@Anti-Matter I also believe Chris Pratt voicing Mario was okay. I also believe that it's fine if a character we all know and love gets voiced by a different actor for one media.
Although we'll have to wait and see how well Chris Pratt will do voicing Mario, since it's only a teaser trailer.
@Rika_Yoshitake My good sir and/or madam, when I said that, I meant it in a sarcastic way, not in a offensive way. I never even said anything bad about British comedy, just making fun of your comment. I mean come on, xenophobic over a British humor joke? People have said worse here.
But you know what, just for you, I'll make a new joke. You sound like the kind of person who doesn't like internet memes because you think that The Big Bang Theory is the height of comedy. Better?
Oh wow, it really does. That's crazy.
The movie looks good otherwise, but yeah, the voice casting for Mario is pretty bad.
Congrats the officially have to recast Mario...ty
@nymbosox Lou Albano.
It sounds as much like Linda from Bob's Burgers as it does Lou Albano. In other words, kinda but not exactly. Someone's pipes need cleaning.
@nymbosox That's not true at all. In the late 80s/early 90s Mario was voiced by Captain Lou Albano for the Super Mario Bros Super Show (you can look it up on YouTube). To us old school fans, THAT is the real Mario voice, not that ridiculous, squeaky, Mickey Mouse voice from Martinet.
Martinet's voice is the worst thing that ever happened to Mario and it's a tragedy that there's an entire generation that knows nothing else (and that generation thinks that anything before breakfast is ancient history). Oh, how I weep for the world.
Ok now we just need someone to dub Linda with Fix It Felix’ voice. Full circle.
@Truegamer79 the shows actually really good, it’s like 12 seasons long now. Totally worth a watch got some real funny characters in it. Good voice actors too, Chris Pratt does Linda’s voice
No we just need someone to animate Linda into every scene!
@brandonbwii
Google is you friend.
They should have just hired the Linda voice actor to voice Mario. It would have been cheaper, it would have sounded similar, but at least that voice actor can emote more.
Alriggggghhhhhtttttt!
@somnambulance
Glad to see another Mega Man 6 fan! MM6 was the first Mega Man game I ever owned and it gets a lot of hate (well maybe not hate but a lot of indifferent shrugs) but there’s some really great music in there (especially the first Wily level) and just a lot of fun all around!
@CazSonOfCaz,
So true, which is why the studio has chosen Chris Pratt to voice Mario.
Ah, finally figured it out. Mario's face in the movie resembles one of my bosses from a past career. Uncanny!
Or the article should read, a small vocal minority, with far too much time on their hands, thinks Mario sounds like..........
@Slinkoy1 Of course it doesn’t support LGBT though. It’s a church. Isn’t their philosophy always “blame the sin, not the sinner?” That’s what I’ve always heard when I used to attend Bible study in regards to that.
@brandonbwii,
The link to that church is pretty tenuous at best, and if you followed that rule, then anyone with the slightest religious belief could be guilty by proxy, as the bible has many things in it that could be labelled homophobic.
@GrailUK,
Of course some peoples mind was already made up not to like Chris Pratt in the role, no matter how it turned out.
So many man children crying because they feel Charles Marinette was somehow snubbed, now they are grasping at straws suggesting they will watch the French version, because they prefer the accent.
Not sure what is more sad, the fact something as minor as this gets them all riled up, or the fact they post on social media and forums crying about it.
@Judal27,
For clicks and outrage, if nothing this site is very consistent.
@Bondi_Surfer,
Get over it, Mario is not going to have an accent that pleases you in the English language version, no big deal, and you don't have to watch it.
@johnvboy Chill dude. It’s a comment section, and I left a comment. There’s nothing for me to ‘get over’. Bye!
@Bondi_Surfer,
Bye then.
And as you said this is a comment section, so I simply replied to your comment, never read anywhere in the rules that I was duty bound to agree with you.
I think the biggest problem with the character is that he doesn't sound like Mario.
@Mountain_Man Would you really want to hear an authentic Mario voice for a 30 minute runtime though?
@johnvboy Exactly. That’s what I’m trying to understand. What makes Chris Pratt any different than any other church goer? If you were to ask any pastor what their thoughts are on LGBT, wouldn’t most of them be about the same?
Some people just want to complain about something, just to complain.
I am going to enjoy this movie!
@Mountain_Man
Have you ever watched the mario cartoons? Hear their voice, after that this sounds good lol.
@brandonbwii,
You are of course correct, but there is a small toxic portion of the LGBT community, that is in no way representative of the whole, that shout the loudest and look to be outraged by even the slightest thing, and even most of the community do not agree with them.
Another issue this causes is the lack of any reasonable debate on the subject, as you are usually painted as one side or the other, which means any discission is always going to end in arguments.
@Mountain_Man,
This has been said many times, but nobody as yet has provided a definitive way Mario should actually sound.
I know Charles Marinette's Mario is the baseline for the core fans. and to be honest in the videogames it's perfect, but people have to realize that when playing a videogame your mind is also occupied playing the game.
And I think having Marinette's voice for a full length movie is a case of be careful for what you wish for, as I will bet my house it would become very annoying and cringy for even the most ardent fan.
@Anti-Matter "If you really disappointed by the cast of Mario movie just hush, let other peoples enjoy the movie."
I don't like this attitude of "If you don't like it don't say anything". You have to allow people have a voice on things they either love or hate. If people say that quote then that person shouldn't post anything they don't like at all period or else you become a hypocrite.
Example. If people didn't criticizes the model of Sonic in the first reveal trailer, then the studio wouldn't have redesigned it and it may have never became one of the most successful video game movie franchises.
Same with No Man Sky. If people didn't say anything No Man Sky may not have be become a fantastic game.
It is good to criticizes as it may allow companies or an actor/actress to make changes for the better. Sure most of the time they just ignore it. Now the time you should hush or stay quite is when you start to attack someone as a person or start sending death treats as that doesn't help anyone. Voicing your disappointment to persons performances is not attacking them personally.
@SilentHunter382 Yeah the Sonic movie comes to mind as well. If nobody complained then we would have had that awful character model they originally ran with. But luckily the fans complained, the studio listened, and we got a far more appealing Sonic for the movies.
Removed - unconstructive
Removed - disrespecting others
Removed - flaming/arguing
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