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The Super Mario Bros. Movie · 2023 — Chapter 5 of 14 · 1'34" · B1

Mario Meets Toad in Mushroom Kingdom, Explained: a cruel twist of fate

Mario wakes up somewhere impossible, meets a talking mushroom, and learns his brother has landed in the Dark Lands under Bowser's control. One line sums up the bad news: "that is a cruel twist of fate." Toad decides to take him to the princess.

What happens

Mario wakes in the Mushroom Kingdom and realizes it is real, then meets Toad. He explains he is looking for his brother, who fell through a pipe and landed in the Dark Lands, which Bowser controls. Toad offers to take him to the princess.

Small talkAsking for helpSmall talkExplainingStrangersB1slowamericanClean
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a cruel twist of fateHang onin factPleased to meet you

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Phrase of the scene

a cruel twist of fate

an unkindly ironic turn of events

奇诺比奥刚确认马里奥不是在做梦，转头就告诉他弟弟掉进了黑暗之地；马里奥用 a cruel twist of fate 给这趟奇遇下结论：明明到了蘑菇王国，弟弟却落在最坏的地方。

Losing the keys on the one morning I left early was a cruel twist of fate.

Also in this scene

  • Hang on

    hold on; wait a moment; endure

  • in fact

    used to add, correct, or sharpen what was just said

  • Pleased to meet you

    a standard, slightly formal greeting when meeting someone for the first time

Everything marked in this scene

14 notes across 33 lines

Phrase · A1do not touch somethingDo not touch that mushroom! You'll die!
Phrase · B1perfectly fineOh, I'm sorry. That one's perfectly fine.
Phrase · A2pleased to meet you

a standard, slightly formal greeting when meeting someone for the first time

Pleased to meet you.
Phrase · A2this is not a dreamSo this is, uh... this is... this is not a dream?
Phrase · A2that hurt-(yells) -That hurt, right?
Phrase · B1definitely not a dream-Yes! -Definitely not a dream.
Phrase · C1a cruel twist of fate

an unkindly ironic turn of events

Now, that is a cruel twist of fate.
Phrase · A2be looking for somebodyYeah, I'm actually looking for somebody.
Phrase · B1look exactly like someoneHe looks exactly like me but tall and skinny and green.
Phrase · A2that is not goodUh, that is not good.
Phrase · B1land in a place: Um, your brother has landed in the Dark Lands.
Phrase · C1the most ... creature aliveHe's the most evil, wretched creature alive.
Phrase · B1take someone to see someoneI'm taking you to see the princess.
Phrase · B1hang on

hold on; wait a moment; endure

Hang on, Luigi.

Mario Meets Toad in Mushroom Kingdom, explained

What's really going on

The scene is a stranger-in-a-strange-land beat played for comedy and warmth. Mario's instinct is still to find Luigi, even after landing somewhere impossible, and the film lets a talking mushroom do the plot work: your brother is in the Dark Lands, under Bowser, who is "the most evil, wretched creature alive." The exposition is huge, but the jokes keep it light, and Toad's offer to help gives Mario his first ally. What matters underneath is the same thing as before: Mario is lost and alone, and everything he does from here will be to get back to his brother.

Theme

CourageLost in a new world, Mario keeps moving and accepts help, driven by the need to find his brother.
Family loveMario's search for Luigi is the reason he keeps going, even after landing somewhere impossible.
Now, that is a cruel twist of fate.

A wry comment on bad luck: of all the places to land, it had to be a kingdom built on the thing he dislikes.

He's the most evil, wretched creature alive.

The villain introduced in superlatives, setting Bowser up as the world's worst before he even appears.

I'm taking you to see the princess.

The offer that starts the plot: a small guide volunteers to bring Mario to the person who can help.

Do not touch that mushroom! You'll die!

A warning built on comic contrast, as a friendly-looking mushroom turns out to be deadly.

He looks exactly like me but tall and skinny and green.

Mario's attempt to describe Luigi, funny because it is both precise and useless as a description.

Questions about this scene

How does Mario find out where Luigi is?

Toad tells him that his brother landed in the Dark Lands, the territory Bowser controls. That single piece of news sends Mario toward the princess for help.

Why does Toad take Mario to the princess?

Because she can do anything, in Toad's words, so she is the obvious person to help find Luigi. The trip also introduces Mario to the kingdom's ruler.

What does "a cruel twist of fate" mean here?

It is a joke about bad luck. Mario ends up in a kingdom named after mushrooms, which he seems to dislike, right after being separated from his brother.

Who is Bowser in this scene?

He is named as the most evil creature alive and the ruler of the Dark Lands where Luigi is trapped. The description sets up the film's main villain before he appears.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie · 14 chapters

All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 6anything your hearts desirePrincess Peach Faces the Bowser Crisis
Chapter 1if it isn't ...Spike Mocks the Mario BrothersChapter 2hit the big timeMario and Luigi's First JobChapter 3sick and tired ofMario's Family Doubts the DreamChapter 4as long as we're togetherMario and Luigi Get SeparatedWatching · Chapter 5a cruel twist of fateMario Meets Toad in Mushroom KingdomChapter 6anything your hearts desirePrincess Peach Faces the Bowser CrisisChapter 7eat you for breakfastPeach Trains MarioChapter 8no pressurePeach Rallies the Toads for BattleChapter 9out of my sightBowser Interrogates LuigiChapter 10What makes you think ...?Peach Bargains with Cranky KongChapter 11know when to quitMario Beats Donkey KongChapter 12come out of one's shellBowser Proposes and Mario FlirtsChapter 13a ray of sunshineMario and Donkey Kong Trade InsultsChapter 14I've been told that beforeThe Brothers Defeat Bowser
Chapter 5 of 14 · about 24 min to go