I don’t know about everyone else, but I was an avid “Minecraft” player on my Kindle Fire back in 2012, and still fall victim to the infamous “two-week ‘Minecraft’ phase” a few times a year. Needless to say, I’ve been waiting for the game to be turned into a full-length film for over a decade, and made a goal of seeing it as soon as possible, despite no longer falling into its intended audience.
Clearly, I was not the only one excited for this movie, as I have never seen the theater in Dundas as full as when I saw the movie a few days after its release. Nearly every seat was full on this random Tuesday afternoon — and with a variety of people, as “A Minecraft Movie” drew young children, their parents, teenagers, and, of course, college students like myself. The film itself was obviously the most memorable part of my visit to the theater, but the atmosphere created by the audience was also unforgettable. Because of this, I’d say it’s a film worth seeing in theaters, which is not something I would often argue.
The film also boasts an impressive cast, which led to much of the hype behind it prior to its actual release. Jack Black and Jason Momoa star as Steve and Garrett, respectively, and the chemistry between their two characters is undeniable. Additionally, Jennifer Coolidge plays a minor yet memorable character, and cameos from figures in the “Minecraft” community are apparent throughout.
The plot itself is where I’d argue “A Minecraft Movie” falls a bit short. To summarize the film while avoiding spoilers, a group of four misfits gets pulled into the “overworld” through a mysterious portal, and their way of returning home is quickly destroyed. There, they meet Steve, who brings them to a nearby village, and ultimately on a quest to a “Woodland Mansion” in order to return to their world. Along the way, the group must use their creativity to “craft” to survive the overworld’s blocky terrain and unusual monsters. Everything was very straightforward, and there were no major plot twists to make it memorable. The theme of characters essentially falling into a video game feels overdone at this point, but at the same time, I’m really not sure how you could manage to make a film about “Minecraft” with a more unique plot point.
“A Minecraft Movie” was not perfect, by any means, and certainly just a children’s movie with a simplistic plot at its core. Was it overhyped, with things like McDonald’s “Minecraft meal” and the endless social media promotions? Yes, a bit. That said, though, I would certainly recommend “A Minecraft Movie” to anyone else who grew up playing the game — and encourage them to look for the fun easter eggs throughout!
