John Leguizamo and Bob Hoskins inSuper Mario Bros.(1993); Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed (center) inIt’s a Wonderful Life(1946).Photo:Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty; Photo 12/Alamy Stock
Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty; Photo 12/Alamy Stock
John Leguizamomight be having a bit of a George Bailey moment as he reflects on the lasting impact of his 1993Super Mario Bros.movie.
In a recent conversation with PEOPLE surrounding his new documentaryJohn Leguizamo Live at Rikers, the veteran actor and comedian recalled how his perspective aboutSuper Mario Bros., in which he played Luigi to the lateBob Hoskins' Mario, changed over the years after attending conventions and meeting fans.
“I start[ed] to realize that it was a cultural phenomenon — that it meant a lot to kids who grew up with it,” says Leguizamo, now 63, of the fantasy-adventure movie, which celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year.
And theTo Wong Foo — Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmaractor even sees a parallel to another film that didn’t gain popularity until later.
“You know,It’s A Wonderful Life, it had the same thing. It was a critical bomb. It bombed at the box office, and yet it became an American staple forChristmas,” Leguizamo says. “So you never know. It’s fascinating. And I’m glad that I brought joy to kids and was part of their childhood.
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John Leguizamo as Luigi Mario and Bob Hoskins as Mario Mario inSuper Mario Bros.(1993).Merie W. Wallace/Buena Vista/Courtesy Everett Collection
Merie W. Wallace/Buena Vista/Courtesy Everett Collection
But despite its groundbreaking attributes, “I was very down on the movie when it first came out, just because as a young actor, I was like, you just go with the crowd,” Leguizamo tells PEOPLE. “And the reviews weren’t good. It wasn’t a big hit at the box office, so I assumed it didn’t have any value.”
John Leguizamo; Luigi inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie(2023).Karwai Tang/WireImage, Universal Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection
He also says he believes Jankel and Morton, both now 68, “were really brave and stuck their neck out to get me into the movie. Because it was very hard back then, in the ’90s,to be a Latin man and get work, and [to] be a lead was impossible.”
Leguizamo, who regularly speaks out about the importance of diversity both in Hollywood and otherwise, toldIndieWireback in April while discussing this year’s animated hitThe Super Mario Bros. Moviethat he’d “consider” lending his voice to a potential sequel or spinoff, if the filmmakers “do the right thing and add more inclusivity.”
“Everybody’s entitled to their opinions,” Leguizamo says when asked about Rogen’s remarks. “That’s what he thinks. That’s fine. It doesn’t hurt my feelings. It doesn’t change the quality of the movie. .. I’m cool.”
John Leguizamo Live at Rikers,from Azimuth Films, is available to stream now on Black Experience on Xfinity and Xumo.
source: people.com
