The following film review is spoiler-free.
In the latest installment of the ‘video game to film adaptation’ series, society has been blessed with “A Minecraft Movie.” If you’ve been online in the slightest over the past two or three weeks, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve been blasted with the lines “flint and steel” or “I am Steve.”
“A Minecraft Movie” is exactly what it sets out to be: a children’s film revolving around the best-selling video game, and arguably the most influential, of all time, “Minecraft.” Even non-gamers can enjoy the blocky, imaginative and creative world that our characters venture through.
The film was heavily bolstered by the online community and meme culture, and it reaped the benefits. Many were skeptical at first, but “A Minecraft Movie” grossed $163 million in its opening weekend, according to Variety. Critics can say what they want, but Hollywood executives got what they wanted.
When it comes to the cast, every single main character gets their share of screen time. The two performances that steal the show, however, are Jason Momoa’s portrayal of Garrett and Jack Black’s portrayal of “Steve
I read a comment on TikTok which I felt truly encapsulated Black’s performance. To paraphrase: Jack Black isn’t playing Steve; he’s playing himself, and he’s dressing like Steve.
Anyone who has seen other Jack Black films, such as “Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny” or “School of Rock,” should know what I mean when I say this, but this film is essentially just Black doing his shtick. He says things emphatically, he sings and he embarasses himself for our enjoyment. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is more up to subjective taste, but for many, this is a win.
The plotline is intertwined with the same brand of humor we see in a lot of family movies. I say ‘family movies’ as opposed to ‘kids movies,’ as there is a little something for everyone: jokes about the monotony of adult life, innuendos, etc.
The film never takes itself too seriously. The runtime of under two hours and fast pacing also permits moviegoers to enjoy what’s given to them, rather than feel tempted to open up their phones or fall asleep. I truly believe that it accomplishes its goal as a film: to deliver a short and sweet message and entertain the masses.
My previous statement comes with a disclaimer, however. I watched “A Minecraft Movie” with Rhody Flicks, the University of Rhode Island’s film club, and we essentially bought out the back two rows of our theater. I’d estimate there were less than 15 empty seats total, and the crowd was very reactive. This amplified the viewing experience, as quote after quote, the audience erupted into cheer or applause.
Following the film’s conclusion, I tried to envision myself watching it in my dorm room by my lonesome. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’d be giving the film the same merit if that were the case.
What may have truly been the icing on the cake, however, was making a post-cinema trip to McDonald’s to enjoy my very own limited-time “A Minecraft Movie” meal. I got the Big Mac variant, as I prefer it to McNuggets, and now enjoy my very own Ender Dragon egg-themed Grimace toy.
All in all, the cinema experience rivaled that of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” or “Barbie.” One of my favorite aspects about movie culture is how it brings people together, and in this case, the camaraderie was like no other.
With that being said, I will still hold it to my typical film review criteria. As a motion picture, I give “A Minecraft Movie” a two out of five ‘chicken jockey’ rating.
