A Minecraft Movie secures Jack Black’s spot in video game film adaptations

When “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” came out in April 2023, I was excited to see my childhood obsession come to life on screen, with actors Chris Pratt and Charlie Day and, of course, Jack Black’s iconic outbursts of song.

Now, almost exactly two years later, Black returns to play Steve in my other childhood favorite game that kept me from touching grass: Minecraft. This time, again, we see the same kind of comedic video game humor.

Similar to the Mario movie’s song “Peaches,” we hear Black sing heartfelt songs about his dog Dennis, even leading a villager to shed a tear. Also, the infamous “flint and steel” line has made its way around the internet. Black has secured his place in video game-themed movies in a way no other actor has.

Culture Editor Stella Powers and I braved miserable weather, little girls throwing up in front of Chipotle and sold-out theaters to see “A Minecraft Movie” on opening day.

It was totally worth it.

While technically a “kids’ game,” Minecraft can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike, as shown by the sheer number of adults in the theater. The game gives players the creative freedom to build whatever they want without constraints and provides a much-needed escape. The movie emphasizes this freedom, as the five misfits had to use creativity to evade monsters and find the Earth cube to get back home.

The movie starts with Steve saying that he’s always yearned for the mines — where he could be free from life’s constraints and express himself. That’s what Minecraft allows people to do. There is no “correct” way to play Minecraft, which is why the movie is called “A Minecraft Movie,” rather than “The Minecraft Movie.”

We start by meeting characters such as Henry (Sebastian Hansen), a kid who just moved to a new school and has creativity beyond imagination. Henry is taken care of by his sister Natalie (Emma Myers), who made him bacon-wrapped tater tots so that his classmates would like him on his first day.

Just before Henry’s first day, he meets a guy named Garrett “the Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), a former fight game champion who dresses in 80s style, blasts Skid Row and can’t let go of his past prime. He serves as a mentor-like figure for Henry. We also meet Dawn (Danielle Brooks), Henry and Natalie’s landlord, who runs a traveling zoo as a side gig.

Throughout the movie, there is a constant feud between Steve and Garrett. While there is a guise of friendship, Garrett wants to be the hero of the story, whereas Steve is a seasoned Minecraft professional who knows his way around the blocky world. However, they both need each other at different moments.

My favorite character overall was Vice Principal Marlene, played by Jennifer Coolidge, who was recently divorced and can’t seem to let go of it. One day, she hits a Minecraft villager, who had escaped into the real world, with her Jeep Grand Cherokee, leading her to say, “Your head is huge!”

The encounter leads her to take the villager on a romantic date, and I kid you not, I could not stop laughing in this scene. Her comment about how the villager had more of a personality than her ex, only to be met with “hrmm,” was perfect.

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I like how the movie incorporated elements of the game that longtime fans of Minecraft, like me, could appreciate, while also bending the rules, like when Henry crafted a “potato launcher” to help fight against monsters. I found this interesting because, while no such item exists in the actual game, mods can be added to make anything a reality.

While Henry is picked on by bullies in real life for his creativity, in Minecraft, it actually helps the group survive. This brings up the stereotype of kids being bullied or made fun of for liking Minecraft, but in the end, their creativity can help them with real-world problem-solving.

I only wish that they would’ve included some more elements of the game, like potions or the ender dragon. It would’ve been funny to see the characters get lost in the end city or have a witch throw potions at them. Maybe those will be in the sequel.

If you are planning on watching “A Minecraft Movie,” make sure to stay until after the credits, as there is a scene setting up the movie for a sequel where Kate McKinnon stars as the voice of Alex in a short exchange with Steve, seemingly setting up a sequel.

While critics may have had mixed reviews about the movie, I truly believe that’s the point. “Stupid humor” may not land well with seasoned movie critics. But for those of us who enjoyed Minecraft from childhood until now, the movie serves as a tribute to all the hours we spent building our worlds and crafting memories along the way.

Rating: 7/10

smith854@miamioh.edu