A Minecraft Movie preaches creativity without any of its own (Review)

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I hadn’t thought a Minecraft film starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa would be great, but it turns out to be even more disappointing than I could have ever imagined.

Movie adaptations of video games haven’t had an easy journey through time. They’ve produced some real duds, like the 1993 Super Mario Bros., but there have also been somewhat better attempts, such as the Uncharted film starring Tom Holland.

A performer such as Jack Black, having previously appeared in the passable Super Mario Bros. Movie, might have second thoughts about participating in a Minecraft Film. It seemed doubtful there would be much advantage, and indeed, every potential issue that could arise, did so.

A Movie based on Minecraft might be better described as a series of unconnected episodes, peppered with humorous side-stories such as Jennifer Coolidge’s romantic subplot. This film feels tailor-made for the TikTok era, which raises some concerns.

What’s particularly troubling is discovering that no less than five individuals were involved in crafting this Minecraft Movie. Ironically, a central message of this film revolves around fostering creativity – a lesson it itself appears to have overlooked. It’s crucial to walk the talk, and maybe that’s why the movie reeks so strongly of disappointment.

For quite some time now, a film based on Minecraft has been under production, and it might have benefited from additional years in the oven. However, this somewhat premature video game adaptation is expected to delight young viewers, particularly those who got excited about the extra scene after the credits. Yet, the humor seems to cater more towards grown-ups, who may find themselves laughing at the occasional bathroom humor (even for a Jared Hess production, A Minecraft Movie features an abundance of such jokes).

A Minecraft Movie aims to be the next Jumanji series, but it is no better than The Emoji Movie.

A Minecraft Movie review — What’s it about?

In the past, a gifted yet ostracized individual named Steve (portrayed by Jack Black in maturity), found himself destined for more than a mundane existence. As a child, he stumbled upon a mine shaft that led to a gateway. He was separated from this world as a youth, but as an adult, he ingeniously slipped past the robust security measures and returned to the Overworld.

In that place, he transforms himself into a skilled artisan. Eventually, he discovers meaning in his existence as he constructs awe-inspiring sceneries. Later on, he encounters Malgosha (Rachel House), who seizes him with the intention of darkening the Overworld (you might be surprised by her backstory).

Prior to entering the Overworld, we encounter four unlikely characters embarking on a journey. Among them is Natalie, portrayed by Emma Myers, a young girl charged with looking after her brilliantly gifted younger brother Henry, played by Sebastian Hansen, following the demise of their mother.

Eventually, she lands a position in social media marketing for a local potato chip manufacturer situated in a quaint town. Over time, Henry finds himself at Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison’s (Jason Momoa) video game store, eventually forming a friendship with the renowned gaming icon.

Once hailed as a prodigy and a beloved local hero, Garrett now struggles with a struggling business. In a last-ditch effort for salvation, he purchases a storage unit at an auction, seeking to find an old Atari game system he could resell. Unexpectedly, he stumbles upon the enchanting orbs, one of which resembles the Tesseract from the Marvel’s Avengers franchise; initially, he overlooks their potential significance.

Following a school predicament, Henry seeks Garrett’s help in pretending to be his uncle, aiming to escape the repercussions. Back at the shop, Henry becomes captivated by the mysterious orbs. Upon activation, they uncover a gateway to the Overworld – a realm where Natalie and their real estate agent, Dawn (Danielle Brooks), later appear.

They then team up with Steve to save the Overworld from the villainous Malgosha.

The lead performances

Black doesn’t deliver anything out of the ordinary in his performances. He continues to emphasize the final word of almost every second sentence, and he employs his Kung Fu Panda martial arts skills convincingly during the action sequences.

Surely enough, there’s a traditional power ballad in A Minecraft Movie for him (it wouldn’t be a Jack Black film without such a number). Director Jared Hess, who has collaborated with Black previously on Nacho Libre, seems to have granted him significant creative freedom when it came to shaping his performance.

This interpretation of Steve, as portrayed by Jack Black, is unlike what one might anticipate. Despite Jack Black donning the well-known baby blue attire, there’s nothing in his performance that conveys an obvious “Steve” characterization.

It seems clear that he’s enjoying himself alongside Momoa, whose acting style is light-hearted and free-spirited. Momoa isn’t recognized for his heavy, dramatic performances, and this film, A Minecraft Movie, doesn’t change that perception of him.

In some fashion, Garrett’s character stands out as one of the most intricate parts he has embodied. Despite being portrayed as a failure, he discovers meaning throughout his journey within the Overworld.

One standout aspect is the playful camaraderie between Black’s and Momoa’s characters. Many of their jokes are geared towards parents who unwittingly brought their children to watch A Minecraft Movie during the weekend matinee. While some jokes land better than others, there’s a certain amusement in their over-the-top banter.

Emma Myers and Danielle Brooks get the short end of the stick

In A Minecraft Movie, Myers and Brooks spend the majority of their time on the sidelines. They provide a bit of humor, but their roles lack substantial tasks or developments.

A Minecraft Movie aims to capture the enchantment of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, but it doesn’t have The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, or Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan replaced by Joe Manganiello and Kate McKinnon respectively.

In a more casual and simplified manner: Known mainly for her role on Wednesday, Myers hasn’t had the chance to develop her on-screen sibling relationship. The film implies that she contributes a fresh, modern approach to social media at her traditional workplace, but this aspect isn’t fully explored within the movie.

It’s unfortunate, as a Minecraft movie could effectively express its theme of fostering creativity. However, the film seems to struggle with this concept itself, since the boat created by the character Natalie in the Overworld appears quite rudimentary and unimaginative.

It’s possible that as a child, she was just as imaginative as her brother. However, taking on a nurturing role may have stifled her creativity. Regrettably, the creators of the movie decided not to delve deeper into the character, so we can only speculate about her story.

A TikTok generation movie

The characters in A Minecraft Movie might not have much background information because it’s designed with TikTok users in mind. It’s structured like a film meant to be scrolled through on phones while watching. Typically, this approach would be a major flaw when going to a cinema. However, given the nature of this movie, it could be challenging to stay upset with people who may find their focus drawn elsewhere.

An ideal instance demonstrating a Minecraft Movie tailored for the TikTok era can be found in a pivotal scene during the third act. In this moment, a character regains consciousness following an interruption in their actions.

Contrarily to our expectation, they do not depict the character awakening from their coma as anticipated. Instead, there’s an abrupt transition straight to them hugging another character. It seems the filmmakers didn’t share our patience for a 20-second scene of the character waking up.

Some of the writers’ language seems aimed at being relatable to the current generation. Phrases like “unalive you” are used sincerely, and the movie appears to be hastily put together, much like an inexpensive piece of clothing.

Jennifer Coolidge’s bit role

For instance, consider Coolidge’s character within the project. In this context, she embodies the vice-principal of Henry’s school named Marlene, who develops romantic feelings towards a character from the game.

Having Coolidge in your film is certainly advantageous, but unfortunately, her storyline is one of the weakest aspects of Minecraft The Movie. It leaves me perplexed as to what the writers had in mind when they proposed this concept.

If Coolidge had the chance to visit the Overworld, it would have been a grand success. Unfortunately, she’s relegated to moments serving as brief respite from the intense main quest.

In my opinion, it seems like they might be holding back the adventure of her trip to the Overworld for the upcoming sequel. I’ve got a feeling that, despite its grim nature, a Minecraft movie is destined to earn a significant amount of money and secure a sequel.

Practicing what you preach

Once more, it seems contradictory for a Minecraft Film to advocate for unleashing creativity if it doesn’t demonstrate it itself. The movie promotes this idea abundantly, but falls short in actually displaying creativity.

The primary narrative follows a predictable pattern reminiscent of Jumanji, but Coolidge’s side-story seems to be the only innovative twist the scriptwriters incorporated into the plotline.

It’s unlikely that people anticipated the Minecraft movie to create something entirely new (it wouldn’t be realistic to do so). However, there was more anticipation for it in terms of visual appeal. While the Overworld resembles a typical Minecraft world, it appears overly artificial during action sequences, giving an excessive fake impression.

In Minecraft, gamers devote numerous hours constructing their masterpieces. Interestingly enough, a Minecraft film doesn’t delve deeply into the crafting process. However, fret not as it does include subtle nods to the game that enthusiasts will quickly identify. For instance, the primary characters engage in a lengthy conversation during their initial night in the Overworld, discussing how the 20-minute timeframe for nighttime is played out in the actual game.

Should you watch A Minecraft Movie?

No matter how I put it, a Minecraft Film appears primed to rake in millions at the box office. As someone who hasn’t played the game, I find it hard to believe that the dedicated fans of Minecraft would be satisfied with this movie adaptation.

The game serves as a catalyst for unleashing creativity. It motivates players to bring their mental ideas to life, opening up an infinite array of potential cinematic masterpieces.

In my gaming world, I’d say something like: “Instead of crafting a vibrant game experience, it feels like Hess and Co. just cashed in their cheats and churned out a dull, aimless video game adaptation on the big screen.

As a devoted admirer, it’s hard not to feel a pang of concern that the creative spark which once ignited masterpieces like Napoleon Dynamite might have dimmed for Hess. Over two decades have slipped away since those glory days, and one can almost say the same about Black and Nacho Libre.

In the end, it’s clear that some responsibility lies with the studio executives who were out of touch, failing to grasp what fans expected from a Minecraft movie. It’s unlikely that a repetitive performance by Jack Black, similar to ones he’s given over the past two decades, or Jason Momoa trying to be comedic was high on many fans’ wish lists.

These days, content producers carefully arrange their posts to please the algorithm. It’s just part of the strategy, and A Minecraft Movie only does enough to achieve a box office hit without going any further.

Grade: F

A Minecraft Movie will be released on April 4.

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2025-04-02 22:40