A Minecraft Movie tells the story of Steve (Jack Black), a man stuck in a soul-sucking job who has always dreamed of being a miner. One day, he breaks into a mine, discovering two ancient relics that, when combined, transport him to the Overworld. Here, Steve’s imagination is limitless, as he can build anything to his heart’s content. But things get dicey when Malgosha (Rachel House) and an army of pig creatures from the Nether are determined to destroy anything creative. So, Steve sends the relics with his dog, Dennis, to the real world.
Back in the real world, siblings Natalie (Emma Myers) and Henry (Sebastian Hansen) have moved to a new town where Natalie landed a job as a social media manager for a potato chip factory. Henry is a smart, talented inventor but struggles to fit in, but meets up with a washed-up former arcade champion Garrett (Jason Momoa). Eventually the trio and real estate agent Dawn (Danielle Brooks) encounter Dennis, who whisks them back to the Overworld to help rescue Steve.
A Minecraft Movie is simple enough for non-fans to understand and enjoy, while the hardcore fans will love being immersed in this blocky low-res world filled with Easter eggs (Chicken Jockey, anyone?). At first, Jack Black seemed an odd choice for the famous “Steve”, but you get what you bargained for—Jack Black being Jack Black: goofy, silly, and funny. He may not be for everyone, but if you like Jack Black’s humor, this is much of what you’ve come to expect from him. His song, “Steve’s Lava Chicken”, will no doubt be an earworm that kids will sing for months to come, much like his “Peaches” was from The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Jason Momoa surprisingly steals the show as “The Garbage Man” and gives an unexpectedly hilarious performance, showing that he’s more than muscles and luscious locks. Danielle Brooks is fine and has some funny moments, but her character feels unnecessary and clutters up the screen (does the random real estate agent really need to join along?). Myers and Hansen are believable as siblings and are great in their roles.
Unfortunately, the leads can only carry so much of the film. The plot is basic and suffers from numerous side quests, which, depending on your age and tolerance, may be good or bad thing. The visuals and world design are interesting with its retro, pixelated, chunky designs, while not entirely novel, still feel fresh compared to other films.
A Minecraft Movie checks off all the boxes for hardcore fans, while also being enjoyable enough for total Minecraft newbies. It feels a bit like an old-school family film, a rarity nowadays: the kids will love it, but parents will still get some entertainment out of it and feel the family outing was worth it.
A Minecraft Movie hits theaters on April 4.
★★★
