A Minecraft Movie Review
Everyone’s been waiting to see if A Minecraft Movie would be a hit or miss given how it’s been conceptualized and in development for over a decade. Given its actual popularity in the last few years or so, Minecraft had this evergreen potential for a live-action adaptation. Now that it’s arrived, with Napoleon Dynamite’s Jared Hess at the helm of this film, many are wondering if it’s as bonkers as it’s been showcased in the trailers. With Jason Momoa and Jack Black taking center stage, that’s definitely bound to be as A Minecraft Movie is perhaps the wackiest take imaginable.
A Minecraft Movie follows the misadventure of four misfits Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), siblings Henry (Sebastian Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers), and Dawn (Danielle Brooks), as they go through their mundane, troublesome lives. When they get pulled into the blocky, weird world of the Overworld and encounter devious mobs and the like. To help them navigate this reality is Steve (Jack Black), who teaches them everything they need to. But when a danger from down below seeks to destroy everything creative, they all must come together as one.
Given the nature of how A Minecraft Movie was presented through its trailers, it’s clear that this movie’s main target is for kids. The pacing considerably moves the film’s narrative as quickly as possible, almost throwing you in for a loop with its references back to the game. Kids will absolutely love some of the references (rest in peace, Technoblade) and cameos placed throughout, which will certainly catch the attention of many.
The overarching story very much borrows that thematic element of creativity from The Lego Movie while infusing it with the wild shenanigans of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. The main villain, the evil piglin Malgosha from the Nether, pretty much wants creativity to be destroyed. Steve pretty much serves as A Minecraft Movie’s substitute for Rhys Darby’s Nigel Billingsley, with the main cast fulfilling those archetypal quartet roles. As such, it can make the film’s story feel incredibly familiar, albeit done through the lens of Minecraft instead.
Still, there’s much to enjoy from its main cast. Jack Black and Jason Momoa ultimately carry this film at every turn, hitting the right comedic beats with their enthusiastic performances. Both of them together make up some of the most hilarious moments. This is especially so when some of the musical numbers kick in, which are very absurd as some were expecting. However, when the third act goes slightly in the direction of The Matrix, Steve’s lack of presence can remove a part of that fun factor the film’s got going.
While the cast does a great job with what they’re given, their respective characters could’ve had more development. Henry and Natalie do have an interesting arc where one just wants to live in the present while the other wants to live with this magical bliss. This aspect of A Minecraft Movie’s narrative can be somewhat lost in the comedy of it all. Fortunately, there are some heart-to-heart moments, both with each other and with the adults, that just adds a little bit of that emotional fervor to stick with families.
On the other hand, Dawn’s escapist arc is much more focused on her crude real-world circumstances. Her journey makes for an intriguing case of self-discovery given how the first act establishes her character, though the movie mostly relegates her as a comic relief. Furthermore, school vice principal Marlene (Jennifer Coolidge) absolutely gets into some craziness when her Villager “lover” gets into the real world. There’s not much to say about Marlene past the first act as Coolidge absolutely gets fully flirtatious as Marlene. It does provide for some hilarious scenes, especially when they begin dating, but it can bog down the film beyond that.
Kids will enjoy this film due to its eye-catching, if realistic, visual aesthetic thanks to Weta FX’s visual effects. While not all of its visuals are 1:1 with the actual game, A Minecraft Movie respects what the game was going for while infusing it with that live-action, big budget polish. From the items to the mobs and the crafting works of it all, Weta FX did an amazing job bringing Mojang’s game to the big screen.
A Minecraft Movie is a fun movie for all families with its message about creativity and imagination, even it safely executes its big ideas. Every kid who’s played Minecraft will absolutely adore this movie for what it’s got, and families can appreciate its thoughtful thematic exploration in the long run. Jared Hess did an admirable job with what he’s done with this film and I’m hopeful for what he’ll do beyond this cinematic cubic flick.
A Minecraft Movie releases in theaters on April 4.
Rating: ★★★½
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.
A Minecraft Movie Review
A Minecraft Movie Review