• Release year: 2025
• Director: Jared Hess.
• Producers: Jon Berg, Cale Boyter, Vu Bui, Roy Lee, Jill Sobel Messick, Jason Momoa, Mary Parent, and Torfi Frans Ólafsson.
• Screenplay by: Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James, and Chris Galletta.
• Cinematography by: Enrique Chediak.
• Music by: Mark Mothersbaugh.

Shotgun Commentary: Jack Black being Jack Black, everything else is pretty lame.

Review

A Minecraft Movie is one of those brainless blockbusters that you either love, hate, or fall asleep watching. It has been received with a lot of excitement by the video game fandom and, as it happens with all cinematic adaptations, it is bound to be revered or loathed by them. However, what about the rest of us?

What about those of us who never really got into video games? What about the people who stand in the sidelines, wondering why anyone would want to spend a whole day exclusively staring at a screen? Well, that’s where this feature gets tricky, but worry not, here’s a review from a person who is completely alien to the vast world of Minecraft.

Nice and easy

Firstly, if you have absolutely no knowledge about the video game, worry not. The relevant lore is explained quickly and comprehensively in a short but sweet prologue protagonised by Steve (Jack Black).

During this opening sequence, you are introduced to the different planes of reality featured in the game, as well as its basic mechanics. You will discover other characters and cool tricks throughout the film, but nothing in the narrative will ever make you feel out of place or unwelcomed.

Secondly, it is a Jack Black movie. If you like Jack Black, chances are, you are going to love this film. Sure, he might not absolutely nail it in every single performance, but you kinda know what you are getting into when it comes to Black.

Much like Statham’s quiet but deadly avenger, Black’s carefree dude with only good vibes going is pretty legendary at this point. Disclaimer, his role here isn’t half as funny as his Bethany (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, 2017), but very few roles are. Still, Steve is a pretty likeable guy that, as expected, makes being a loser his badge of honour.

The yin to the… other yin

Speaking of which, Jason Momoa seems to have embraced the cringe since Fast X (2023), managing to deliver a character that is almost as cringe as his villain in the fast-cars franchise. Momoa plays Garett, a manchild who won a video game competition in his teens and has made his whole personality about that singular moment in his life. Ever heard of “men who peaked in high school”? He is the very definition, minus the sexism, thankfully.

The duo is exactly what you would imagine. Even their interviews during the press tour of the film resemble the characters’ dynamic. Is it fun? Sure. Is it creative, innovative, or surprising in any way? Not really. Unlike other films based on toys, like Barbie (2023), this film has absolutely no layers or deeper message, and that’s OK. If you are hoping for your mind to be blown, unless you are a die-hard fan of Minecraft, chances are, that is not going to happen.

The “issue”

Third and lastly: the special effects. There has been a lot of controversy around this due to the release of an unfinished version of the movie online. Tons of viewers have watched this version instead of the final product in cinemas, leading to a horde of fans raving about the horrible VFX without realising that they were only exposing themselves. Now, to each his own, but let’s clear this misunderstanding a bit and why this critic thinks the film works regardless.

In the final version, there are a couple of issues in terms of special effects, as the VFX team ran out of time. Thus, some renderings are a bit poor and some other details look iffy. Is it enough to take you out of a film that makes ridicule its core message? Not really.

And as for the people who saw the online version and enjoyed those lovely unedited images, one could argue that, considering the game’s reputation of bad graphics in favour of good performance, it kind of fits the ethos, no? In fact, they should also share that version in cinemas for people who want to fully lean into the awkwardness of it all.

All in all, A Minecraft Movie is not a film yours truly can recommend in good faith. It has the simplest humour ever, which is great if you want to bring your 5-years-old to watch it with you. Plus, it’s got Jack Black singing and doing roughly the same things he’s been doing in all previous comedies. If you like the game, or either of the aforementioned details, by all means, do go watch it. If you are looking for a creative comedy that follows an unexpected path, this is not really it.

Advice to take from this movie:

• Never give the delicate contraption to the guy who is incapable of doing anything right.
• Never underestimate how cringe Momoa can get.
• Get as many useful experts as you can when making a film about a product. Community input and such.

What’s your take? Have you watched A Minecraft Movie? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀