The workweek was fine, but very busy, so by the time Friday evening rolled around, I was spent. M was feeling similarly, so we ordered personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut and watched SUPER MARIO BROS on the couch bed. I’ve seen SMB many times, and every time I watch it, I marvel at its strangeness.
Watching SUPER MARIO BROS. is like getting a glimpse inside someone else’s fever dream. Is it a good film? No. Is it a fun, surrealist work with a bonkers premise and plot? That’s a big honkin’ affirmative. I love that Nintendo was like, yes, please do whatever the fuck you want with these characters. Then, after the film came out and bombed, they wouldn’t let any of their other titles be made into movies for thirty years. The directors had the option to go big or go home, and they chose to go big and created a piece of art that, if it wasn’t good, was at least interesting.
The directors of this film, Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton, also created the fabulously weird cyberpunk world of MAX HEADROOM. I am somehow never able to retain this bit of film trivia. Each time after watching SUPER MARIO BROS., I’ll read up on the film’s production and relearn the MAX HEADROOM connection and find myself nodding, like, ah yes, that makes sense.
READING: THE LOTTERY AND OTHER STORIES, Shirley Jackson
LISTENING: I LOVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
LAST WATCHED: SUPER MARIO BROS. (1993)