REVIEW: “A Minecraft Movie” (2025)

(Courtesy IMDb) 

I have a confession to make. I have never played Minecraft. Back when it was first released, I had some students I used to tutor that would tell me about the original game and how it worked. From my understanding, it’s basically a world-building universe made entirely out of blocks. In addition, realms within that created world are discovered, as are the characters and creatures that occupy those worlds. 

Many people (myself included) hardly had any hopes, let alone interest, for the big screen adaptation (courtesy Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess) that was released earlier this year. The movie’s poorly-received teaser trailer apparently didn’t help, despite the odd casting of Jason Momoa (as former gaming champion, Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison), Jack Black (as Steve, reuniting with Hess since Nacho Libre), Oscar-nominee Danielle Brooks (as real estate agent Dawn), and young actors Sebastian Hansen and Emma Meyers (as siblings Henry and Natalie, who move to a new town in Idaho). All five are random people who discover a mining portal to the titular gaming world. 

To be fair, I did think the second trailer fleshed things out a little more. But I must say, I was surprised by how this fever dream of a flick (as some would agreeably call it) became such a cultural phenomenon in theaters, whether we like it or not. (Sort of the opposite of what ended up happening with Disney’s live-action Snow White.) One thing several movie chains didn’t like was the controversy surrounding the famous “Chicken Jockey” scene, which caused a lot of popcorn pandemonium around the country. Not to mention said chains putting warnings/disclaimers on their auditoriums that were screening the film. 

Aside from that, I find Black’s “I am Steve” intro more amusing, along with the fact that he and Momoa are essentially playing grown men-children (one, with a business on the brink of bankruptcy; the other, who’s been living in a fantasy world for years). More than a few hilarious and off-color moments showcase their comedic chops. Ditto Jermaine Clement as a Southern auctioneer. 

To be sure, A Minecraft Movie has some very uncanny CGI characters and creatures, including one seriously creepy-looking kid “jockey.” A subplot involving a school vice principal (Jennifer Coolidge) and a villager is just bizarre. The rest of the movie is occasionally crude and outright ridiculous. It is strictly a fan-made event, after all. But it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I did otherwise find it enjoyable to a degree, with Black perfectly suited to this video game world. (Remember, he voiced Bowser in the animated Super Mario Bros Movie.) 

I also enjoyed Dennis the dog, the pandas (hey, another Jack Black connection!), and the numerous 80s references in Garrett’s store. Plus, the soundtrack is fun, with two or three tracks recalling Black’s days with Tenacious D. It also has some nice but passive messages about sibling relationships, what it means to be a kid and an adult, and the power of creativity. Still, Minecraft is a movie that requires you to leave all logic and sense at the portal door. 

#bereel #bekerianreviews #21stcenturycinema #warnerbros #legendarypictures #mojangstudios #jaredhess #jackblack #jasonmomoa #aminecraftmovie2025 

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