Call me a sap, but I think it’s better to love than to hate. There certainly was a lot of hatred during and after the reveal of last week’s Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer, where people’s worst fears about Chris Pratt — namely, that he’d be Chris Pratt — came true. But some folks managed to spin their intense feelings into love instead — spearheaded by the legendary and incomparable voice actor Tara Strong, who voiced support and affection for everybody’s plumber Charles Martinet.
Hey twitter friends, I happen to know a certain earth angel who could use some love tonight. Have a story about @CharlesMartinet ? Pics? Ever meet him at a con? Share in this thread pretty please. I love him so much that now we insist on being next to each other at all cons 💙❤️
— tara strong (@tarastrong) October 7, 2022
Strong — a longtime friend of Martinet who’s adamant that he should’ve voiced Mario, just as he had for decades — invited people to share stories of the storied voice actor, leading to a huge wave of warm anecdotes and feel-good tales. It was enough to make him (and I would wager all of us) emotional:
I love you Tara! Thank you so much! Thank you everybody! Your love and kindness mean more than you could ever know, And genuinely touched my heart. My little eyes seem to be leaking today… with tender affection. Thank you…
— Charles Martinet (@CharlesMartinet) October 7, 2022
It’s impossible to state whatever was going through Martinet’s head as he watched the trailer, or received the casting news in the first place. We know he’s going to be in the movie in small cameo roles, but considering how many denizens of the Mario universe he’s voiced over the years, it’s a shame that he wasn’t casted for the lead(s). Despite what some extremely wrong haters might say, he’s a versatile voice actor with decades of experience who doesn’t just make funny noises, and could carry this movie with one hand tied behind his back if allowed to. But in this timeline, all we can do is celebrate the man for all he’s given us.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie release April 7th, 2023. If you have the time, make sure to look through the Twitter thread above — it’ll restore at least a little love in your heart.
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Written by Amelia Fruzzetti
A writer and Nintendo fan based in Seattle, Washington. When not working for NinWire, she can be found eating pasta, writing stories, and wondering about when Mother 3 is finally going to get an official localization.
