The Minecraft movie is a perfect example of “the trailer doesn’t always represent the movie.” I went into the theater expecting something that, at its best, I could hate-watch and laugh at afterward. What I got was a genuinely enjoyable 80s-esque comedy that was not afraid to be absurd. If you are looking for a fun film with wacky antics, I cannot recommend this one enough.
This is a movie that is, somehow, simultaneously aware that it is a movie without explicitly breaking the fourth wall. It is full of meme references, nostalgia bait and on-the-nose plot points, all while managing to beat its theme into you second by second. “But Kate,” you might be thinking, “Doesn’t that make it a bad movie?” Surprisingly, no! Despite having all the indicators of a bad movie, this film is quite enjoyable.
The plot of A Minecraft Movieis pretty simple: Jack Black, playing the titular Steve, discovers an interdimensional crystal that transports him to a strange, cuboid world. An evil sorceress wants to steal the crystal to take over this world. Meanwhile, two children move to a new town after their mother’s passing. They stumble into this new world, discover Steve, and must save the world before the sorceress takes it over.
The actors all do a great job at portraying their characters, especially Jason Momoa. He plays the comedic character Garett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, an overly confident alpha male type who definitely peaked in high school. He and Jack Black bounce off each other quite well in some genuinely funny moments. The other actors play their roles well, too, but I would argue that the camaraderie between these two men is one of the film’s highlights.
As for my thoughts on the story, well, it’s there. It exists. The plot is nothing special—just your typical “villain tries to end the world” story. But this movie really doesn’t need a deep, well-crafted plot. I would argue that it is more fun becauseit doesn’t take itself too seriously. The town the children move to is called Chuglass, a major villain is called Chungus, and Jack Black’s line delivery is wild for the sake of being wild. If you think I am exaggerating how crazy this film gets, trust me, this is just the beginning. I am trying not to spoil my favorite parts.
One of the most fun aspects of this film is seeing it in the theater. At least, that was my experience. There were several people wearing suits, and everyone clapped and cheered when the characters said a line featured in the movie trailers. At first, I found the excessive hollering annoying, but it grew on me as the film progressed. Unlike most films, where silence is the expectation, it was fun to be reminded I was in a theater sitting with other Minecraft fans.
And speaking of being a Minecraftfan, the references to the source material in this film are super fun. Does it pander quite a bit to its audience? Sure, but isn’t that what you’re there for? Seeing these other-wordly creatures—like derpy looking sheep, unnerving Endermen, and the classic villagers, among others—in a more realistic form (with game audio, might I add) is really exciting if you’ve spent countless hours in your Minecraftworlds. The effects in the film do a good job demonstrating the vastness of the world and variety of creatures, too, even though the green screen effects can be pretty obvious at times.
All in all, A Minecraft Movie is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. If you have some time to spare this weekend, I recommend seeing it in theaters while you can, as part of the fun of this film is experiencing the craziness with other people. I cannot express how surprised I am that this film was as enjoyable as it was. Regarding my final thoughts, A Minecraft Movieis a life-changing must-see film—6/10.
P.S. Make sure to stay for the post-credits scene!
