Super Mario Bros: The Movie – Why Chris Pratt Is Such A Controversial Mario

The voice cast for MARIO made waves by putting Chris Pratt in the title role, but recent controversies have caused some debate as to whether Pratt is the correct choice to play the world’s most famous plumber. The upcoming animated film based on Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. gaming franchise is set to release in December of 2022, but by that point, Pratt could be further embroiled in controversies that have eroded his popularity in recent years. After rising from comedic television darling to Hollywood action hero, his political and personal decisions have raised questions about his integrity. Meanwhile, the decision to cast him as Mario comes with its own ethical questions with regards to the character’s origins.

Pratt first endeared himself to audiences as Parks & Recreation‘s Andy Dwyer, the lovable doofus at the heart of the beloved sitcom. After building a career around supporting, often comedic roles, he broke out as a leading man in 2014, headlining Marvel Studios’ left-field success Guardians of the Galaxy and lending his voice to the lead role in the critically celebrated The Lego Movie. He parlayed these into a period of bonafide action-hero hits, helming another franchise with the Jurassic World series, starring in Passengers (2016) opposite Jennifer Lawrence, a voice role in Pixar’s Onward (2020), and a Guardians and Lego sequel (as well as various other Marvel projects).

But fervor for Pratt has cooled off lately, largely due to controversies surrounding his personal and political life. As the 2020 election approached last November, and celebrities voiced support for the Democratic ticket en masse, Pratt’s silence spoke volumes, leading many to believe he was at best frustratingly centrist, and at worst endorsing Donald Trump for President. These conservative leanings were supported by his religious practices, as Twitter users uncovered links between Pratt’s Hollywood non-denominational Christian church and support for anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, policies, and practices. Furthermore, it was widely publicized that Pratt’s account follows several bad-faith conservative commentators, including right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro.

Pratt, to his credit, has spoken out against claims that he stands with the exclusion and abuse of LGBTQ+ communities. His fellow Marvel talent, some firmly entrenched in the left, gave testimonials of Pratt’s unimpeachable character and goodheartedness. But his silence on other issues and joking disregard for the seriousness of circumstances have poisoned the well for viewers engaging with an increasingly scrutinized celebrity landscape. And the disparity between support for Pratt and other Marvel stars when facing out-and-out discrimination—Brie Larson faced misogynist attacks for Captain Marvel—left a bad taste in the mouths of some audience members.

Pratt’s personal baggage only covers some of the casting controversy, as another viable angle focuses on the background of the character. Pratt is not Italian, but then again, Mario is more caricature than character, and the representation debate is somewhat unproductive here. He’s an Italian plumber created by a Japanese company whose primary market is American; tracing ethnic origins here is a wash. Even the original voice of Mario (and Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi) Charles Martinet is of French descent. Some suggested he ought to get the part as the role originator, but his performance, while apt to the myriad Nintendo video games and ancillary materials, is a bit one-note for a feature film—not to mention the box office draw Pratt represents. The remainder of the cast includes diverse, premier talent, including Keegan-Michael Key and the star of Last Night in Soho and Furiosa, Anya Taylor-Joy.

While Pratt is less shiny of an attachment than he was a half-decade ago at the peak of his blockbuster prime, he’s still a bankable star as evidenced by his selection to helm this upcoming MARIO film. With the troubled legacy of the only prior film installment in the franchise, 1993’s camp-classic Super Mario Bros., this animated version would do well to start from the ground up. Putting Pratt in the title role suggests the film intends to do just that. And if there’s anyone who can turn a nebulous corporate-tinged concept into a critically worthwhile film that produces tears of both laughter and joy, it’s the star of The Lego Movie.

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