This review contains spoilers for the movie “A Minecraft Movie.”
Four misfits are transported to a geometric world where life is based on creativity and survival.
Inspired by the popular game, Minecraft, “A Minecraft Movie” entered theatres on April 4.
Minecraft is an open-world game where creativity is key to survival. The game allows you to explore abandoned caves, villages, and battle monsters, all while building whatever one wants.
I attempted to go into the movie completely blind, but that was exceedingly difficult when the trailer and scenes from the film were seemingly everywhere. In short, this movie was quite a strange but pleasant surprise for someone who has been playing the game since its 2009 release.
“A Minecraft Movie” opens with the tale of the classic blue-clad video game character, Steve, portrayed by Jack Black. In his own words, Steve “yearned for the mines” as a child but was forbidden to enter them.
After years pass, Steve is now an adult. His creativity is discouraged and inhibited by his corporate job. Tired of the rat race, Steve pursues what he has always yearned for— the mines.
As a diehard fan of the game, I was slightly confused as to why Steve was initially on Earth. His appearance in the game is cohesive with the geometric proportions of every other thing in the game.
Once in the mines, Steve unearths the Orb of Dominance and the Earth Stone, both never made an appearance in the original game. Once the Orb is inserted into the Earth Stone, a portal to the beloved Minecraft overworld is created, and our protagonist enters.
I did not understand why these objects were in the movie; it seemed strange to introduce them out of nowhere, but I suppose he needed to get to the world somehow.
A Depeche Mode-soundtracked montage explores Steve’s first years in the world as he tames a wolf, Dennis, who is essential; remember him. Steve also builds a house, and of course, mines and crafts. This is my favorite scene in the movie, as it is the sole scene where anything strictly Minecraft occurs. It was refreshing to see true Minecraft activities occur, and with the movie’s name being “A Minecraft Movie,” I guess I assumed more Minecraft-y things would happen. I was wrong.
All is well until Steve discovers the unignited ruins of a Nether portal. In his ignorance, Steve uses flint and steel to ignite the portal and crosses over with Dennis.
Once in the Nether, Steve and Dennis are almost instantly apprehended by the wicked Piglin sorceress, Malgosha.
Malgosha seeks to unleash her evil across all realms. This requires the Orb and the Earth Stone.
Foiling Malgosha’s plans, Steve instructs Dennis to return to Earth and hide the stone under his waterbed. During this trek to Earth, the portal bridging Earth and the Minecraft overworld is sealed. This left Dennis on Earth and Steve in captivity.
Back on Earth, namely in Chuglass, Idaho, we meet Garett “Garbage Man” Garrison, played by Jason Momoa. Garrison is a gamer who is depressingly attempting to relive his 1980s glory days as a gaming champion. Garrison owns an arcade, but it is slapped with an eviction notice because it is an arcade in 2025.
Initially, Garrison made me want to leave the movie theater as I thought this was another attempt to put Jason Momoa in movies where he plays the obligatory cinematic hunk. However, he was ultimately my favorite character. Shockingly, he was a highly developed character whose story I enjoyed watching play out. Momoa’s chemistry with Black is undeniable. It was nice to see their contrasting personalities riff off one another.
Sibling duo Henry, played by Sebastian Hansen, and Natalie, played by Emma Myers, move to Chuglass as it was their mother’s dying wish. Henry is creative, but this is discouraged by others in his new school, so he is deemed an outcast on his first day.
I loved the sibling dynamic, but Natalie’s character was markedly underdeveloped. Frankly, I didn’t know her name until the last ten minutes of the movie.
Once Henry and Natalie arrive at their new home, Dawn, the real estate agent, played by Danielle Brooks, greets them and wishes them well in their new home.
Dawn was a hilarious character, and I loved her, but once again, she was underdeveloped. I could have done with more Dawn scenes rather than Henry scenes. I believe both Dawn and Natalie were only included in the film for it to have diversity. The others in the cast are straight, white males. It seems like their characters were afterthoughts, but I enjoyed what little screen time they occupied.
The remaining hour of the film is essentially Jack Black bellowing classic Minecraft items, inopportune song breaks, Jennifer Coolidge dating a villager, and a multitude of scenes that must be seen to be believed.
Despite being “A Minecraft Movie,” I felt that there could have been more references to the game. Instead, we heard Black’s strange yell-singing.
I wish there had been less of a plot, as it seemed to get in the way of the movie’s true potential and visual appeal. The game is plotless and is based on your creativity to give the world meaning. In this instance, this was director Jared Hess’ world, and he gave meaning to it.
This film is a cash grab and a desperate attempt at establishing some semblance of nostalgia for Gen Alpha’s fleeting adolescence. With all of that crudeness being said, it certainly achieved its goal.
It’s asinine, juvenile, and utterly stupid. But weren’t we all at one point?
I felt uninhibited and childlike again. It truly gave me back a piece of the days when all that was required of me was defending my theme park from the slew of sinister mobs on the opposite side of the iron fencing.
This is a fantastic viewing experience for fans of Minecraft and would be great for a group to watch. But please don’t yell chicken jockey. That got on my nerves.
Allow yourself to re-experience the exhilaration of childhood, however impermanent it may be. So, saddle up your chicken jockey, pack up your lava chickens and go see “A Minecraft Movie” now in theaters.