A Minecraft Movie

by Mike McGranaghan

My knowledge of Minecraft comes solely from watching my children play endless hours of it. And having unsuccessfully tried playing it once. And having a 6-year-old whose bedroom is completely decorated in Minecraft. And having roughly a gazillion Minecraft LEGO sets sitting around the house. You get the idea. As a matter of fact, the 6-year-old is watching Minecraft videos on YouTube as I write this review. A Minecraft Movie really only has one job: to deliver some of what its ardent fans like about the game in cinematic form. My kids haven’t seen the film as of this writing, but it seems to me that the goal is generally met.

Plotting is not necessarily a strong point. The story has to do with washed-up former video game champion Garrett (Jason Momoa) discovering a portal into another dimension where everything is made of blocks and anything you can imagine can be built. Accompanying him are a struggling real estate agent (Danielle Brooks), an orphaned teenage girl (Emma Myers), and her science-obsessed younger brother (Sebastian Hansen). There, they run into Steve (Jack Black), who has been living and building here for quite a while from the looks of it. An evil pig-woman named Malgosha wants the magical (square) orb that brought Garrett and crew into this world, so it’s up to the outsiders to prevent her from getting it.

In a completely unnecessary – and totally hilarious – subplot, a recently divorced school principal (Jennifer Coolidge) starts up a romance with a Minecraft villager who stumbles into the real world, not realizing he’s from another dimension. Only Coolidge could pull off such absurdity in non-embarrassing fashion.

A Minecraft Movie effectively transfers the video game world to the screen. Visually, it’s enormous fun to look at. Every inch of the frame is filled with bizarre creatures, weird weapons, and strange landscapes. The effects team has done a fantastic job giving the place personality, rather than just turning it into a dumping ground of overdone CGI. All the stuff you’d expect to see is represented: Creepers, chickens, blocky skeletons, Endermen, Iron Golums, and Ghasts. If those terms mean nothing to you, rest assured the Minecraft fan in your life will squeal with delight.

Even if you don’t know what any of that stuff is, the picture can be enjoyed for its unapologetic silliness. Jack Black brings his trademark wild-man energy, scoring big laughs as Steve, a character who is intentionally bland within the game itself. The comedian dials his schtick all the way up to ten. Ever bigger laughs are generated by Jason Momoa. He fully embraces his comedic side here, and it’s a joy to see. Unafraid of looking stupid, Momoa turns Garrett into an egomaniac who’s lovable despite being a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Watching these two fighting pig monsters and escaping Creepers in a mine cart is entertaining because they both go for broke.

The studio made a good choice in hiring Jared Hess to direct. He’s best known for Napoleon Dynamite and brings a similar sense of eccentricity to this film. (Appropriately, there’s a running joke about tater tots.) Hess’s approach seems to be that watching the movie should be similar to playing the video game. Therefore, he never lets the pace drag. Crazy action scenes arrive one right after another. Each moment is designed to highlight a familiar aspect of Minecraft. The director brings a playful quality that sets it apart from most other game adaptations.

A Minecraft Movie will hold great appeal for devotees. Newcomers, whether by choice or by child mandate, shouldn’t fear. Getting caught up in the film’s wackiness is easy.

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