“A Minecraft Movie” is truly a once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience. What should have been an instant box office flop has proved critics wrong time and time again. The movie has grossed over $330 million worldwide in under two weeks, making this film a must-watch for anyone trying to reconnect to their youth.
Social media is enamored with the movie, and it was apparent just how fanatical the masses were during the local Ames theatre’s 7:55 p.m. Tuesday showing. Within the film’s first five minutes, people were loudly applauding any time Jack Black said a line made famous from TikTok and Instagram Reels. There was even a patron who gave a full standing ovation during the reading of the line “Chicken Jockey!” This level of excitement turned an otherwise mediocre movie into a ‘you had to be there’ level experience.
The movie follows Steve’s adventure through a portal into the ‘Overworld,’ a real-life version of the Minecraft video game we all know and love. Steve, played by Black, immerses himself in this new sandbox world where anything he imagines can be created. Shortly after, the other main characters are introduced in their own silly ways. The four characters, headlined by Jason Momoa’s Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, find themselves immersed in the Overworld and must help Steve recover the earth crystal to help them return home.
The movie certainly had its ups and downs, but it was an entertaining and enjoyable watch. The characters were slightly underwhelming and, at times, lacked depth. Momoa gave a performance that was unlike anything he had done before. His character was very annoying and lacked good comedic timing, but as the movie progressed, he became more complex than expected.
Another diamond in the rough within this film was the performance given by Jennifer Coolidge. She played the vice principal of the middle school, who ends up on a side quest with one of the villagers from the Overworld. Her character adds a necessary change of comedic pace to an otherwise adolescent humor-filled movie.
“A Minecraft Movie” is, at its core, a children’s movie. As much fun as it was, it does not have the flair that many great films have. Ten years from now, this movie will almost certainly be a cult classic, but it will not be deserving of that following. The characters were dull, and the plot was very predictable, but this movie did other things phenomenally. Whether it was many cameos by Minecraft Youtubers or even the tribute given to the late Technoblade, this movie was simply a lot of fun.
While this film is not going to be critically acclaimed and has many haters, it was a breath of fresh air within the movie industry. It has a little bit for everyone and keeps your attention for the full 100 minutes.
For those who can remember a time playing Minecraft with their friends as a kid, this movie is worth the watch.
Rating: 5/10
