Ever since Super Mario Bros, the first live-action adaptation of a video game, video game movies have been hit or miss. With the recent success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie & the Sonic franchise, video game fans have had it good in the theaters. A Minecraft Movie attempts to keep that streak going, but while it is a fun ride, it may not be for everyone.
The movie, directed by Jared Hess, tells the story of Steve (Jack Black), who is obsessed with mines. The first 10 minutes of the movie gives us Steve’s story and do it in a fashion that has that trademark humor of Hess’s previous films. The beginning of the movie also gives viewers new to Minecraft a crash course into the lore and lexicon of the game. As someone aware of Minecraft but never played it, I found the Minecraft parts of the movie easy to understand and enjoy.
As we are told the story of Steve, we are also introduced to Garrett (Jason Momoa). Garrett had fame in the 80s but is now just living off what’s left of his fame. He runs a used video game store and buys storage units to sell off the goods that are found in them. After one sale, Garrett finds an Orb that belonged to Steve and is unsure of what he has just discovered. This item was hidden on Earth by Steve’s dog, Dennis, to keep away from the evil Malgosha (Rachel House).
We are also introduced to Natalie (Emma Myers) and Henry (Sebastian Hansen), who recently moved into town after losing their mother. Natalie gets a job at the local potato chip factory while Henry is the new kid in school. Henry is a builder and has trouble fitting in at school. After a chance meeting with Garrett, Henry calls on him to help him out with an issue at school. The two discovered the Orb and decided to combine the pieces after seeing a note saying not to. They decide to explore the mines, and along the way, they are intercepted by Natalie and Dawn (Danielle Brooks).
Here is where the movie starts to shine. In the Minecraft world, they learn how to navigate it by luck. Momoa is hilarious in these scenes as he tries to play the tough guy, but we quickly see that he is not as tough as he seems. Momoa was at a 9 in his role as Dante in Fast X, but in this movie, he is at an 11. It is funny to see him try to match the same energy as Jack Black. Black is doing the usual “Jack Black” motions as he exaggerates certain words and breaks out into song a few times. The combination of Hess and Black is making me wish they would reunite again for another Nacho Libre movie.
The humor in this movie is parallel to what Jared Hess has put out before. Like the Minecraft Easter Eggs, the humor may go over the heads of some members in the audience, but others will be cheering out loud. I will admit that I found myself laughing a lot more than I thought I would, and that is what made the film enjoyable. The combination of Black and Momoa is the combination I did not know I needed. The story in itself is a good story about believing in yourself and your art. As the movie plays on, we see some of the character arcs and there’s a silly side story involving Vice Principle Marlene (Jennifer Coolidge) and a villager.
A Minecraft Movie looks stunning in some scenes. The combination of live-action and computer animation blends pretty well, but some moments just look silly. There are a bunch of easter eggs in the movie that the audience I saw the movie with was cheering their heads off for a few things that popped out on screen. While the outcome may feel a bit predictable, taking the journey with the cast to get there is a lot of fun! A Minecraft Movie is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and is a great watch for fans and non-fans of the game.
Final Thoughts: A Minecraft Movie is an absolute blast for fans and non-fans of the game. Seeing Jack Black and Jason Momoa being silly on the screen is a lot of fun and is a sight to be seen. There are a few slow moments in the movie, but it is nothing that takes the audience away from the movie. There is a bit with a knife toward the end that is hilarious even though you see it coming. Stay after the credits for a bonus scene.
Kid-Friendly: The movie is rated PG and is very kid-friendly. Some jokes are geared towards adults that might go over kids’ heads.
Violence: The violence in the movie is regulated to video game violence. I would guess that what happens to the zombies and pig army is pretty similar to what happens to them in the game.
Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity doesn’t just help you craft, it’s essential to one’s survival! Four misfits—Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Momoa), Henry (Hansen), Natalie (Myers) and Dawn (Brooks)—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Black). Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative…the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.