By Ian Chandler - April 9, 2025
A Minecraft Movie is an unapologetic cash grab from Warner Brothers that is, somehow, fun. Starring Jack Black as himself under the alias of Steve, the film has enough zaniness to keep children from getting bored and enough charm to keep adults from hating it entirely. Other cast members include Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Hansen. Most of them are fine, but when compared to Momoa's overly zany performance, the gap in acting quality becomes noticeable. Also, for a film that boasts creativity, there are next to no crumbs of imagination to be found here. So, with uneven acting and lazy writing, the film was destined to be a misfire, right? Well, you may be surprised to hear that my verdict is no. It is ultimately an entertaining blockbuster, thanks in no small part to the film embracing its own silliness.
The first noticeable aspect of the film is its computer-generated world. The CGI team did a great job translating the bizarre, blocky world of Minecraft to the silver screen. The colors pop, and the creatures retain their signature designs-now updated with fluid expressions and impressive texture work. The environments are beautiful and clearly crafted with care. However-and this is one big caveat-the blend of real humans with the Minecraft world creates an unfortunate eyesore. Remember those Spy Kids movies from the early 2000s? Well, this $150 million film features green screen effects that are only slightly better than those. It does the world-building a huge disservice.
The characters are also a mixed bag. Jack Black is always pleasant to see, but he's not a character, he's just Jack Black. Jason Momoa does the heavy lifting as he plays a washed out, egotistical video-game fanatic. Gone are the suave vibes he usually brings. Momoa plays what is potentially his goofiest role yet, and he fully commits to it! The others are not necessarily spectacular, partially due to the lackluster script they've been given. Also, expecting an Oscar worthy performance from the younger actors would be simply unfair. The villain is a cliché, but a good one. She reminds me of an '80s villain: little motivation, diabolical antics, and a commanding voice. Aside from Momoa, she was my favorite character. Even though Jack Black doesn't act at all, what he brings to the table is a lot of contagious fun. He clearly has no boundaries and he seems to be having a blast jumping around a green screen doing... well, whatever it is Jack Black does.
The plot is the most corporate element that is put on the crafting table. It is basically a Goodwill version of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which also had Jack Black in it. There is nothing interesting that happens, narratively speaking. Every plot point can be seen by the time the logo appears on the screen. I understand that kids need a breezy story in order to not feel overwhelmed; but this is simple to a point where the comedy has to pull the writing's slack. Most fatally, if the jokes do not land for someone, they will find almost nothing worthwhile. Even the Minecraft pigs wouldn't eat slop like this. But, at the very least, the story never was a component in the source material; so, the lack of a refined one is not very offensive, by any means.
Lastly, and this isn't to the credit or fault of the movie, the theatrical experience can wildly vary. Because of internet memes, teenagers are obliged to clap, cheer, and sometimes spill popcorn over Jack Black making Minecraft references. In my experience, there was some cheering and clapping, but it was harmless fun and it ceased by the time the line ended. However, multiple families have issued refunds because many modern high-schoolers don't have manners. Some jump on seats, others stand up and run around and shriek like they are on fire. This does nothing to my overall score, but it is worth mentioning if you consider buying tickets. Disregarding the teenage craze, this film is a fun evening at the theater, especially if you have children eager for it.
Score: 63/100
Summary: A Minecraft Movie has the imagination of a zombie and it chickens out on making an enchanted story, but there is enough energy here to liven up this blocky adventure.
