The film opens with the classic Minecraft theme and sends us to a world we all grew up with.
“A Minecraft Movie” features Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers and Sebastian Hansen. Full of “hot garbage tips” and Minecraft lore, audiences will geek out over the intense amounts of research these creators had. Directed by Jared Hess, who brought us “Napoleon Dynamite” and Black’s “Nacho Libre,” this film carried his signature elements.
‘I Am Steve’
Something about “A Minecraft Movie” felt improvised. From the opening of the film, the script and overall plot felt rushed. However, it gave Black so many opportunities to let his inner theatre kid thrive. Given his musical background, there were subtle hints of Tenacious D energy throughout that left me craving more.
Because the soundtrack involved musical numbers provided by Black and the rest of the cast, it made the rest of the soundtrack fall flat. A few of the song choices didn’t match the overall tone of the film. It felt as though the creators were trying to relate to a TikTok audience. Just the sheer joy brought by Black riffing and Momoa strumming heavily on the guitar is all the audience needs. The songs were dumb but added to the overall aura of the film.
The film’s creativity and each actor’s outlet felt similar to the master builders of “The Lego Movie.” Each sequence was entirely fixated on the different artistic avenues each character had. I’ll add that I was hoping for more on-screen building, as that’s a big part of what makes Minecraft so enticing.
‘Keep It Metal. Keep It Heavy.’
Despite the lack of building, Black and Momoa’s bromance was the draw of the story. I was not expecting two scruffy guys to be so perfect for each other, but “A Minecraft Movie” proved me wrong. Momoa played the classic loser wannabe, obsessed with being on top which instantly created a bond between his character and Black. It was unserious and precious to watch their relationship develop. However, their growth and relationship may have been the only saving grace for the characters in this film.
The script involved sentimental moments throughout that didn’t hit the audience the way they should have. Probably due to the rushed storyline, these scenes made the room feel a little awkward. It seemed they were trying too hard to create tension between the characters, but didn’t give time for a build-up. Given more time, I’m sure this could have been worked on and a focus of the story, rather than fixing the botched visuals from the first trailers that were released.
Minecraft is for Everyone
All of that aside, this film was a great rendition of Minecraft and what the world would look like through a different lens. The production team focused on the game’s lore, adding lines and gimmicks that any fan would rave about. The Creeper Farm, Woodland Mansion, Villagers and Endermen were just a few of the many that gave the audience everything we wanted.
“A Minecraft Movie” is in theaters on April 4.
