Wahoo! Drive with me into the land of talking mushrooms, a lovesick villain and two iconic brothers who just don’t know when to give up.

If you’re debating whether or not to watch the new animated “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” ask yourself a simple question. What is more important to you: nostalgia, or a unique and engaging plot? If it’s the former, congratulations! Add the new Mario movie to your watch list. If it’s the latter, a different film might leave you feeling more satisfied.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” was released in theaters on Wednesday, April 5. The story begins with our beloved Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) when a mishap leads them into a magical new dimension. Luigi finds himself in the Badlands and falls prisoner to Bowser (Jack Black), whereas Mario lands in the joyful Mushroom Kingdom where he meets Princess Peach, (Anya Taylor-Joy). The movie follows Mario and Peach on their quest to rescue Luigi and stop Bowser.

Before I get into why I find this retelling of the Mario Brothers’ story fine at best, “let’s-a-go” into some of the more enjoyable aspects.

For one, the movie’s animation did not disappoint. What struck me in particular were the beautifully realistic reflections in the water and the detail in other objects throughout. While Mario and Luigi were sloth-crawling along an unstable sewer pipe that was seconds from falling apart, all I could think about was how detailed the water looked.

Later scenes, like the chase down Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road included shots that made me feel like I was in the driver’s seat, inches from sliding off the track. Shoutout to whatever storyboarders decided to include first-person viewpoints. One scene in Donkey Kong Island gave the feeling of falling and I swear I actually felt my stomach drop.

Animation aside, let’s talk about character development. Now, I didn’t go into a Mario movie expecting nuanced or morally gray characters that make me question my worldviews and beliefs. But, at the very least, I would’ve liked characters rounded out beyond the usual description of their video game personas. What’s the point of adapting a video game into a movie if not to add a bit of dimension?

Mario’s big development was becoming the successful person his dad always wanted in order to make him proud. What could have been a powerful theme about accepting yourself regardless of who people want you to be ended up falling flat with the opposite message.

Luigi, when he wasn’t sitting in a cage, was battling with his reputation as the “loser” of the two brothers. Similar to Mario’s ending, Luigi’s big moment was stepping up to save his brother, proving himself to not be a loser, and therefore worthy of his family’s praise. For a second time, the potential for an important message was botched by cheap, rushed writing.

As for Princess Peach, I’m all for a traditionally feminine character who can kick Bowser butt, however, she didn’t have much depth beyond that. There was great potential during a gorgeous night time scene in a Fire Flower meadow in which Peach reveals that she doesn’t know what planet—or even galaxy—she is from. Could this be the hidden, tragic side of Peach’s story?

It is never mentioned again.

I’d be remiss to move on without bringing up the movie’s cast. When the A-list cast list for the film first dropped, I didn’t know what to think. Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen coming together to voice our beloved Mario characters; what could go wrong? Well, now I know what to think: evidently, it’s not for everybody. Certain lines that might have otherwise been epic came out emotionless or goofy, with line delivery being mediocre at best.

Along with this, the movie’s dialogue was so predictable I was basically mouthing each line before it was even spoken.

Now that you probably think I left the theater grumpy and disappointed, let me change the narrative a bit. The film was packed full of references to the original games in a way that makes you feel like you’re in on an inside joke from your childhood. Warp Pipes and power-ups made special appearances, as did the Spiny Shell and other aspects from the games.

The movie was seeping with nostalgia. Maybe it was the Mario Kart-obsessed nine year old in me, but the film keeps you rooting for Mario and Luigi throughout their epic battles and touching brotherly moments. I loved seeing the characters that I grew up with come to life and connect outside of their games.

Additionally, getting a look inside familiar settings like Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser’s smoking black and red castle fulfilled my dream of jumping right into the Mario games.

As long as you’re in it for the fun colors and nostalgic characters (and if you don’t mind Bowser playing the piano and singing Kristoff-style about his “Peaches Peaches Peaches”), then give the “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” a try. Otherwise, the movies might not be the place for our beloved Mario Bros. and, maybe next time, they should stick to the racetracks.