Mario & Luigi (2022 film)

==Plot==
Mario and Luigi are two fraternal plumbers from the city of New Donk, set in the Metro Kingdom and east of Diamond City. While the two are on their way back to their plumbing shop, they bump into their old rivals, Wario and Waluigi, who are visiting a construction site, along with their old boss Spike and the town’s newly elected mayor, Pauline. Luigi has had, since childhood, recurring nightmares about turtle-like monsters bent on his destruction, and abstract aliens that destroy everything they see. Since he can’t afford a psychologist, he relies on Mario for support, and his brother never seems to want to discuss the dream. The two are moderately successful at their job, but aspire to explore the world outside the city.
One day, the two receive a call from a gravelly male voice, who tells them to visit his street market that sells imported mushrooms. After struggling to find their client, they discover a hoard of giant-sized creatures from the sewers below, consuming mushrooms and wrecking havoc. They try to stop the monsters from getting out of the building, before they quickly realize that the monsters' eating of the imported mushrooms reduces them to normal size, so they throw mushrooms into the mouths of their enemies to resolve the crisis. The local sewers are soon closed for damage inspection, but despite the problem seemingly being fixed, Mario feels like something isn’t right.
The next morning, the brothers find a hollowed shell from one of the creatures, a shellcreeper in front of their apartment, with Luigi noticing a map on its underbelly. Mario interprets this as a map of the city sewers, and drags a reluctant Luigi to find where X marks the spot. They end up bumping into more of the same creatures from before, which they try to defeat using an old POW block and a rusty hammer. Things escalate when one of them, a sidestepper, tries to choke Luigi, resulting in them losing the map. After some more running, they come in close range of a conspicuous, green pipe. Before they can question it, it sucks them inside, taking them to another continent against their will and disappearing once the brothers arrive in their new destination: a flowering field.
The brothers are quite startled and confused, with Luigi especially freaking out over all that’s happened. However, they end up noticing a devastated city in the distance, and begrudgingly decide to investigate. They discover it’s a castle town called Toad Town, filled with petrified mushroom people and little signs of life. This naturally creeps them out, and leads to Luigi accidentally triggering a security system that shoots a dark mushroom into his mouth, reducing his size. However, he uses this to his advantage to try disabling the machine, which reveals a hidden trapdoor. 
Below ground, the brothers meet their gravelly-voiced caller from before: Toadsworth. While clearly on a time crunch, he tries to explain the situation as best he can: they are in the Mushroom Kingdom, which has been taken over by the Koopa Kingdom following years of war. The current monarch, Princess Peach Toadstool, has been held captive by King Bowser Koopa for the past eight months, for reasons he decides to not elaborate on. Toadsworth is the leader of the resistance, who ventured out into the Metro Kingdom to find someone who could help, and sent them the map, expecting them to make it to the destination, which was actually another base of his. After giving Luigi a mushroom to cure the poison, he shows them around the base and introduces them to Captain Toad (his son and second in command), Toadette (Toad’s younger sister who does machines), Toadbert (a glasses wearing toad and their only medic), Toadiko (their cartographer and mail woman) and… Gus (the “fun guy” and explosives expert).
Noticing that the brothers arrived in old, baggy uniforms with blue shirts and red and yellow overalls, Toadette outfits them with advanced equipment: more durable, form-fitting uniforms with red and green shirts, plus blue overalls and magic gloves that lets them “power up.” Before she can explain what that means, the base’s sirens begin to go off. Bowser’s minions have found them. Leading the charge is Boom Boom, a high ranking general known for his muscles, who doesn’t find the Mario Bros. particularly intimidating. However, after they single handedly defeat his goomba soldiers by knocking off their helmets and stomping on them, he makes a last second retreat back to Bowser’s castle, which impresses Toadsworth. With their primary headquarters exposed, they now have a limited time to recover, so Toadsworth orders the Mario Bros. and the aforementioned Toad Brigade-1 to escape to their newest stronghold, while he helps the remaining toads escape.
Boom Boom arrives at the capital, apparently as quickly as he left according to a startled Lakitu. Pushing him aside, he barges in to alert the prince, Bowser Jr., and his adoptive grandfather, Kamek the magikoopa, of his defeat. Although Jr. mocks him for being defeated by “dwumb pwumbers”, Kamek is intrigued. Meanwhile, our heroes are trekking through the grass lands and woods, before ultimately coming across a desert. Although Mario is confused by how it’s right next to the plains, the group still marches on and eventually finds a pyramid called Dry Dry Outpost, which Toads explains to be the second base of the resistance. There, they come across Gaz, Gus’s little sister who has been deeply missing him for months, and becomes fascinated by the Mario Bros. since they look like her toy. After some brief fish out of water antics from Luigi, the Toad siblings explain that the Mushroom Kingdom is composed of six main nations: Acorn Plains, Bone-Dry Dunes, Fungi Forest, the Sunshine Isles, the Whammino Mountains, and the Mushroom Gorge. Each nation has been conquered by the Koopa Troop, but instead of killing or capturing their monarchs, Kamek transformed them into slave creatures. The only person with magic capable of undoing it is Peach, who has been taken prisoner in Bowser’s castle and forced to empower the troop. If they can find a way to free her, they can undo the spell and reclaim the kingdom. 
With their mission set, the group ventures out to their first destination: the Shiver Region of the Whammino Mountains, where Toadbert says a secret weapon is being held. Thankfully, they don’t have to walk another large distance, as they have a built-in pipe system to help them get to it. However, when they end up at their destination, they discover that Bowser’s Army have also heard of the weapon… only for Boom Boom to let it slip they don’t actually know where it is.
The brothers make their perilous journey across a variety of exotic environments, battling Boom Boom, his forces and rescuing Toad envoys, while also testing Luigi’s anxieties along the way, all shown within a montage. By the time they reach their destination, Hollijolli Village, they’re attacked by Hermie III, a hermit crab who is forcing the locals to celebrate Christmas every day. After ducking inside a Yoshi’s Cookie brand store for brief cover, Toadiko explains that he has their weapon, a star, which seems to be the source of his powers. This exposition proceeds to alert him of their presence, sending her up into the roof. Whilst fighting the crustacean, Luigi accidentally trips on a Fire Flower, discovering that he can absorb it, giving the two brothers fire powers. Using this, they manage to retrieve the star, and make a quick break for it before Hermie can attack them anymore.
From there, we cut to Peach, held in a cage within Bowser’s dungeon, being fed her dinner by a speaking, reanimated koopa skeleton who introduces himself as Vomer the Dry Bones. Vomer was disfigured by a volcanic blast in battle and, since Bowser locked him in his dungeon for disobedience, talks incredibly bitterly about him, if fully admitting he’s out of his league to take him on. However, he is genuinely nice to Peach, smuggling in a Shroom Choco-Bar for her after she complains about the “seventh bland meal of the week.” Just as he leaves his shift for the day, he passes by Bowser and Kamek, hiding behind a decorative statue to eavesdrop. 
The two have been in slight disagreement over where to go after their victory. Kamek primarily wants to extract royal secrets, and if not, just make her subservient like the kings; “I could see her making a cute little kitty…” Bowser’s idea is to get this information “practically” through an arranged marriage, though he is clearly more interested in being with her, no matter how much he begrudgingly denies this. Realizing this isn’t going anywhere, he moves onto the other thing they were supposed to go over: Boom Boom’s accounts of the latest thorn in the Koopa Troop’s side.
Back with the Mario Bros., their next destination is Tube City, the capital of one of the Sunshine Isles, where an airship hangar is located. Now that they have the power star, they need to find an easy way into the castle, to which Toadbert suggested that they hitch a ride on an airship and fly right under their radar. Using the indoor plumbing system, they manage to sneak into the base undetected. However, Gus ends up overhearing a conversation between a few Ninji... and Litenuet Pom Pom, who notices him eavesdropping. Toad manages to pull Gus away just in the nick of time, rushing out into the opposite hallway before it’s too late. They manage to board the airship in a hurry, Pom Pom hot on their trail and setting off the alarm, alerting the airship’s pilot, a Lakitu. 
While all of this is happening, Toadsworth is trying to contact our heroes via a walkie talkie. Unknown to them, the Koopa Troop sent a second squad to their base, and managed to capture most of the remaining Toads. Toadsworth has been on the run for days, but knows he won’t be able to hold up for much longer. By the time Toadette gets a chance to answer the call, their airship is in flames, and Toadsworth is captured by Bowser himself. Everyone is visibly terrified of the situation, with Luigi and Lakitu especially freaking out and struggling to stay calm. Thinking fast, Toadbert finds a few emergency supplies which, to Mario and Luigi’s surprise/confusion, aren’t a parachute or anything of the sort. Instead, they’re a Cloud Flower, Super Acorn and a thin, pink mushroom. Before he can explain what they do, a Banzai Bill hits the airship, causing it to plummet towards a forest. Luigi grabs the Cloud Flower and frantically uses it to create a cloud for them to escape on, only to lose concentration upon seeing the incoming ground, giving Lakitu a chance to steal their ride. The scene ends from the perspective of Kamek, as the airship seemingly takes them all out.
Bowser in the meantime is in the middle of a video call with his ex wife, Clawdia. She laments that Bowser is too concerned with conquest and “other selfish desires,” instead of just being a good king and father, which is why she’s already remarried and is the one watching their kids for the weekend. Bowser, on the other hand, is trying to stay calm and not yell at her too much, growing increasingly paranoid of faint grunts coming from the floor. Unbeknownst to them, Peach has been trying to figure out a way out of the castle, and has even dug a tunnel into the ventilation system. However, she’s nearly found out, and is forced to retreat back to her cage, only getting back in the nick of time. Just as she breathes a sigh of relief, she hears a familiar voice from the other side of the cell: Toadsworth.
We cut back to the site of the airship, which has crashed in the dead, burnt woodland surrounding Bowser’s castle. Thankfully, our heroes managed to escape, with Mario managing to grab the acorn and glide down to a tree with Toadiko and Gus… while Toadette reluctantly used the Slimy Shroom and basically became a glorified mattress for Luigi and Toad, having turned into a gelatinous form that broke their fall. While the others try to recover from the blow, Toadiko tries to think up a new plan to get inside the castle. The airship plan didn’t work, but they still managed to get close to the castle and didn’t lose any of their supplies, so all they need to do is find Peach and they just about win. However, Toadette points out that Toadsworth was begging for help and their friends might be as good as dead, leading to an argument between the two over where they should go next. In the midst of all of this, Luigi decides to walk away and find somewhere to sit, since the last few days have been a lot to take in and he still doesn’t feel like he’s good enough to be a hero… and then a hammer is thrown at him.
Returning to Peach, she’s trying to cheer up Toadsworth, who is bruised but more mentally drained than anything else, so much so she says he’s being overdramatic. While they wait for Vomer to give them their lunch, they overhear Bowser, Kamek, Pom Pom and Boom Boom talking in the other room. Boom Boom is being scolded for failing to defeat the Mario Bros, Bowser exclaiming he has to work with Pom Pom if he wants to keep his job. However, Kamek notes that the airship they were on crash landed near the forest surrounding them, meaning that if they survived, they could potentially infiltrate the castle. Toadsworth is horrified by the idea that they might be dead… while Peach has no idea what they’re talking about or why plumbers are a threat to Bowser. Nevertheless, she shows Toadsworth her tunnel and tries to fill him in on her escape plan, only to be interrupted by the sight of a shadow. It’s an irritated Vomer, Peach’s wedding gown in hand.
Luigi is caught completely off guard by a duo of elite troopas, known only as the Hammer Brothers. After trying and failing to absorb nearby dandelions, he manages to get away without much damage, inadvertently leading them to the others. Luigi and Mario discover two lonely fire flowers that they use to fight back and plow through them, but they discover the Hammer Bros’ hammers are immune to fire, making it harder than expected to fight them. Before the Hammer Bros. retreat, one of them sneaks up on Luigi and successfully knocks him out, running off before Mario or the Toads can rescue him. 
By this point, Vomer had gradually become aware of Peach’s espionage, and doesn’t know how to feel about it now that his suspicions have been proven. He knows Bowser is evil, but believes they just need to accept their fates, and is disappointed that “a mere princess” is trying to rebel this late into the game, right before her planned wedding. Toadsworth and Vomer soon get into a heated argument, which only ends when Peach tells them to knock it off and gives them a quick speech about their freedom, specifically mentioning Vomer’s own abuse. Vomer doesn’t know what else to say, and begrudgingly frees the two, saying he knows a place where they can escape.
On the ground, the tension is higher than ever, Mario knowing the endgame is approaching. He runs off without the Toads in pursuit of Luigi, specifically saying that he does not want any of them risking their lives to save Luigi, vowing to save Princess Peach and his brother alone. After what must be hours (or around twenty minutes) of running, he makes it to the castle gates, surrounded by a moat filled with lava and bones. He tears through the soldiers left and right with nothing but a hammer, even stealing the shell of a Buzzy Beetle and a Hammer Brother’s helmet to better protect himself. Bowser immediately realizes what is happening below, and his first priorities are to put the castle under lockdown and get the wedding over with. However, when he arrives at the cell room, he finds the previous Hammer Bros. holding an unconscious Luigi tied up in rope, with no Peach or Toadsworth in sight. Enraged, he orders the two to leave Luigi behind and help him find the escaped prisoners, only for Luigi to wake up the moment they leave. Bowser ends up catching the three trying to send a distress signal with a firework blast on the roof of the castle, and immediately orders them to surrender. Vomer tries to reason with him, but his resentment keeps showing mid-sentence, and he’s forced to hand them over. Peach and Toadsworth are mad at him, but deep inside, he regrets this almost instantly and plans for a way out.
After a brief showdown with Pom Pom and Boom Boom, Mario bursts into Bowser’s throne room, which has been converted into a makeshift wedding chapel, just as the preacher asks if anyone objects to the marriage. He instantly recognizes Bowser as the turtle monster from Luigi’s dreams, spikes and all, so Bowser explains to him the Mario Bros.’ true origins: Mario and Luigi’s parents were natives to the Mushroom Kingdom during the era of Bowser’s father, Morton Koopa Sr. However, the Mario family fled after being caught in a sudden incident caused by an unidentified army, sparking a conflict between the Koopas and Toads. While the Mario Bros. and Peach were young enough to forget the incident, Bowser couldn’t forget, and has held a grudge against the family for defeating his father ever since. As Bowser decides that he can’t control his fate but can control his destiny, he and Mario battle each other in the throne room until Bowser body-slams into the ground, causing the floor to collapse into the execution room below. Luigi risks his life by jumping down the immense height and follows Mario and Bowser, who battle on a bridge over a sea of magma. On a wall of weapons, Luigi finds a massive axe and uses it to shatter the wooden bridge, sending Bowser into the magma and leaving Mario enough time to flee to Luigi’s side. Toadsworth congratulates the brothers, before Bowser rises from the fire sea in his Koopa Clown Copter, taking Peach with him right out of the castle.
The brothers and Toadsworth race to the top of Bowser’s castle, where they find Vomer waiting for them with a small cannon, promising to fix his mistakes. Shortly after they launch Mario, they are cornered by Bowser Jr. and Kamek, equipped with his broom and wand. Toadsworth and Kamek duel with magic beams, but Toadsworth almost ends up losing thanks to his wand running low on juice. Just in the nick of time, the Toads surprise the enemy with bob-ombs. While ordering the Toad Brigade to deliver the secret weapon to Mario, he grabs the unconscious Kamek’s wand and uses it to enchant a simple object: a flute. Meanwhile, Mario catches up with Bowser, and the two engage in a fist fight that ends with Mario cornered and almost falling off a balcony. However, Vomer manages to surprise Bowser with a pow block, sacrificing himself to save Mario. Luckily, like all Dry Bones, his bones begin to levitate back together… only for Bowser to brutally rip them apart and throw his shell at Mario, sending him flying and truly killing Vomer. 
When all hope seems lost, Gus uses one of his fireworks to send the star right where Mario can reach it. Upon activating it, Mario is overwhelmed with amazing power and a rainbow aura. Using his newfound power, he successfully gets back up to Bowser, beating him with ease using enhanced strength and speed. During all of this, Luigi is not far behind and manages to rescue Peach, bringing her to safety… only to realize everyone else is on the edge of their seat, staring directly at Mario and Bowser. Sure enough, the star power begins to fade, giving Bowser a chance to fight back, but Mario still manages to send him flying into a wall with the last of his power. Dizzy and exhausted, Bowser crawls out of the debris humiliated, wondering out loud what hit him. “It’s-a me, Mario!” Grabbing him by the tail, Mario finally manages to defeat him for good. With Bowser thrown out farther than Mario even thought he’d realistically go, Mario enacts a short victory dance to celebrate… only to realize that absolutely nobody was around to see him.
After standing still awkwardly with a pace sign for over a minute, he overhears his friends and brother in a panic. Their worries subside when Mario himself drops down, sliding down a flagpole in victory. Following his apology for lacking faith in the Toads, he regrets informing them about Vomer’s sacrifice, even having his burnt shell as evidence. While everyone grieves the loss, Toadsworth hands Mario the flute, saying that he and Luigi have earned a happy ending. However, the two of them decide to stay in the Mushroom Kingdom, saying that it wouldn’t be right to just abandon their new friends like this, promising that they’ll stay as long as the kingdom still needs protectors. Everyone applauds them for this, with Mario even being rewarded with a kiss from Peach, leaving him in an enamored stupor. 
A year later, Toads are busy reconstructing, as Bowser’s castle is almost done being remodeled into Peach’s new home, Vomer’s shell being displayed in his memory. Coincidentally, it’s also the anniversary of the Mario Brothers’ triumph over Bowser, and to celebrate, they’re hosting a Mario party in their honor. Toadsworth and the Toads are first to arrive and worry if Mario and Luigi will arrive on time. Their worries once again subside when they arrive, now using special capes as a parachute. Just as it’s revealed that Mario and Peach are now dating, everyone begins dancing to the classic Super Mario Bros. theme… as the camera zooms out, revealing Bowser watching the party on TV. At Clawdia’s house. His minions cramped and still recovering from their defeat, Bowser is as embarrassed as he is infuriated, ending the story by blowing a fireball into the camera.
In the mid-credits scene, we cut back to the party, the brothers and Peach getting settled for dinner in the back garden, with the two being introduced to her cousin, Princess Daisy. Toadsworth is explaining to reporter Kylie Koopa the story of “those super Mario brothers,” remarking how much the two have grown and changed since rescuing the princess. Luigi is then immediately terrified by the sight of the Boo Lady Bow minding her own business four feet away. While Daisy tries to help cheer Luigi up, a waiter tells Mario and Peach someone just arrived, claiming he wants to speak with them. The brothers go out to the courtyard dining area, where they meet Captain Falcon, the head of the Universal Heroics Agency (UHA). Leaning against a pillar with a business card in hand, he tells the brothers that he’s impressed by their accomplishments, and invites them... to the S.M.a.S.H. Initiative.
A post-credits scene reveals that Stanley the Bugman, a former classmate whom Luigi suggested to get rid of the Shellcreepers, is desperately protecting his greenhouse from some stray Fighter Flies.
==Cast==
=== Main Characters ===
Charles Martinet: Mario Mario, Luigi Mario, Toadsworth
Samantha Kelly: Princess Peach, Gaz
Tara Strong: Toad, Toadette
Tom Kenny: Toadbert
Grey DeLisle: Toadiko
Billy West: Fun Gus
Kenny James: King Bowser
=== Supporting Characters ===
Pamela Adlon: Prince Bowser Jr.
Simon Templeman: Master Kamek
James Patrick Stuart: Lakitu
John Leguizamo: Hermie
Nolan North: The Hammer Bros.
Matthew Mercer: Boom Boom
Charles Martinet: Wario Waluigi, Waluigi Waluigi
John DiMaggio: Foreman Spike
Tara Strong: Misc. Toads, Pom Pom
=== Koopa Troop ===
Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Monty Moles, Shy Guys, Ant Troopers, Blocksteppers and Bloopers are the most common soldiers
Buzzy Beetles, Lakitus, Ninji, Snifits, Chomp Bros. and Chargin’ Chucks are elite soldiers
Piranha Plants, K-9s, Bullet Bills, Spinies, Chain Chomps, Bob-Ombs and Bob-ulks are mostly used as weapons
Koopatrols, Thwomps, Whomps, Reznors and Magikoopas are high ranking guards
Kammy, King Bob-Omb, King Whomp, Goomboss, Motley Bossblob, Major Burrows, General Guy, and Petey Piranha appear as non-verbal background characters
Shysters exist
===Cameo Characters===
Kate Higgins: Pauline
Samantha Kelly: Clawdia Koopa
Roger Craig Smith: Captain Falcon
Kate Micucci: Princess Daisy
The five Mushroom Kings make a brief appearance, shown transformed into Big Bully, Mummipokey, Dogadon, a Dino Rhino and Bunson the Hot Dog respectively, before appearing as themselves in the ending
Pokeys, the remains of a Dull Bones, Tweesters, and a Spiky Snifit appear in the background of Bone-Dry Dunes.
Gulpits, Frost Piranhas, and Bumpties appear in Hollijolli Village
The shadow of Iggy can be seen during the first scene at Clawdia’s, with Larry peeking in from behind her chair at one point
Popple cameos near the beginning, stealing remnants of Toad Town in the background, and later appears during the climax, stealing some wedding presents. 
=== Non-verbal Characters ===
Shellcreepers, Sidesteppers, and Fighter Flies
Stanley the Bugman
Category:Films