Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination....
I let out a huge sigh of relief when the final credits of the loud, lazy, and painfully unfunny “A Minecraft Movie” finally rolled. This nearly unbearable adventure squanders the already minimal creative potential of its source material and even worse, wastes the charming quirks of its director (Jared Hess) and blockbuster cast. Not even the combined star power of Jack Black and Jason Momoa can salvage this.
The film follows five misfit characters, expert crafter Steve (Black), Garrett (Momoa), Natalie (Emma Myers), Henry (Sebastian Hansen), and Dawn (Danielle Brooks), who stumble through a portal into Minecraft’s Overworld. Here, they must master the game’s blocky mechanics and fight off Piglins and Zombies. On paper, it’s a premise that could have offered a playful tribute to the imagination and creativity that make Minecraft so beloved, especially by children. Instead, what we get is a barrage of constant yelling, frantic running, and an embarrassing lack of story or character depth.
There’s a kernel of humor early on, but the movie wears out its welcome fast. The script leans on tired jokes, chaotic slapstick, and endless exposition dumps which rarely let the audience breathe (or care). The characters are so thinly drawn they feel like placeholders for merchandising opportunities rather than anyone you’d want to spend 100 minutes with. This movie manages to make Black and Momoa unlikable, which isn’t a brag-worthy feat.
Even the uninspired but passable animation can’t save things. The film is bright, playful, and faithful to the blocky Minecraft aesthetic, but does nothing imaginative with the world. Everyone in this film, from those behind the camera to the ones in front of it, seem like they’re phoning it in for an easy paycheck. The film lacks spark, energy, and imagination at every turn.
While the movie might technically appeal to very young fans of the game, it’s a joyless, clumsy mess that does nothing to capture the magic of the phenomenon it’s based on. The film frequently confuses wacky antics for comedy and pop culture game references for story. I gave “A Minecraft Movie” every chance to win me over, but it never could. Instead, I was counting the minutes until it was finally over.
