SPOILER WARNING
After months of anticipation, “A Minecraft Movie” has finally hit theaters. Despite its shortcomings, the film still manages to provide many laughs and a pleasant experience.
The movie follows a group of people who accidentally end up in a world where virtually anything is possible. Aided by Steve (Jack Black) they embark on a journey to save the mysterious world while also trying to return home.
The majority of the movie takes place in the Overworld, a land home to a variety of creatures and diverse environments. The visual effects are surprisingly pretty convincing, resulting in a world that feels genuine and straight out of the video games.
The plot itself is a bit messy. The movie takes on too many storylines, be it Steve trying to save the overworld, or Natalie (Emma Myers) struggling with being forced to take care of her brother after a family tragedy. There’s also a subplot with Jennifer Coolidge falling in love with one of the overworld’s resident villagers.
The main characters feel more like caricatures than actual people. Whether it’s Jason Momoa playing a man stuck in the wrong decade or Sebastian Hansen as a young boy wanting to explore his creative side, these are all characters we’ve seen before. The performances from the cast are very simple, adding to the lack of depth surrounding the characters.
However, there was one performance that managed to stand out. Jack Black was a pleasant surprise. Between enthusiastically delivering his lines and performing several original songs, it’s clear that he had a lot of fun with the character. He made the character his own, and kept the audience entertained for the entirety of the film.
To say the audience was entertained is a bit of an understatement. Throughout the movie, the audience was laughing and cheering during many of the moments that have gone viral on the internet. Lines such as “flint and steel” and “chicken jockey” garnered claps and cheers from the audience, and admittedly led to a more enjoyable theater experience.
Is “A Minecraft Movie” the greatest movie of all time? No, but that’s okay. Not every movie needs to be a masterpiece. Sometimes, movies just need to be quick entertainment that keeps the audience engaged for a few hours, and that’s ultimately what this movie is. Go into the movie expecting a lot of laughs and a good time, and that is what you will receive.