Jared Hess is one of those filmmakers where the audience will always split down the middle. He thrives on killing the brain cells of the general public. His films push the boundaries of idiocy, and they do so with intentional earnestness. In A Minecraft Movie, characters break out into musical numbers for no reason, Jason Momoa and Jack Black defy the laws of physics, and Jennifer Coolidge has a bad romance with a Minecraft Villager. All this to say, this is one thousand percent made by the director of Napoleon Dynamite.
I am not here to alleviate concerns that A Minecraft Movie is not a stupid film. If anything, this is me holding a speaker box outside your window, exclaiming what a glorious, stupid movie it is to the world. But here is the twist: The crowd who grew up with nonsensical comedies like Billy Madison, Hot Rod, Joe Dirt, and Dude Where’s My Car? will embrace the nonsense with open arms.
What is A Minecraft Movie about?
The film begins like a Jared Hess film, introducing a string of unconventionally weird characters. As a filmmaker, Hess has a tender heart for those individuals society may consider “losers.” With Napoleon Dynamite, it was a nerd who wins at life by being oblivious and dismissive of the shallowness around him. Jason Momoa‘s Garrett is a creature who feels torn from the Napoleon Dynamite universe. He wears pink, vibrant jackets and exhibits toughness, but he is a wimp and a washed-up gaming champion about to lose his business.
Simultaneously, the film features a brother and sister, Natalie (Emma Myers) and Henry (Sebastian Hansen). They both move to the nearby town to begin a new life. Natalie tries to find some normalcy for the both of them, but the opportunity results in hurdles as Henry destroys public property while building a rocket pack at school. Upon visiting Garrett’s retro gaming store, Henry bonds with the musclebound gamer. A mysterious two-piece cube in the store captivates Henry’s attention. As he connects the cube’s pieces, it activates a blue Stargate-like portal, beckoning him to an abandoned mine shaft.
Then there is the unhinged character Steve, played with a full-throttle performance by Jack Black. Steve always wanted to be a miner growing up but found inconveniences from a disgruntled miner who kept him from living his dream. The film humorously gives Steve the Nacho Libre treatment, where he works a job he despises while aspiring for a different life. The only difference is Steve’s passion lies in mining. Eventually, he gets his way and finds the enchanting and oftentimes dangerous Overworld. After a chain of events, Garrett, Henry, Natalie, and, for some reason, Natalie’s realtor, Dawn (Danielle Brooks) find themselves crossing through the portal of Overworld.
Warner Brothers and Jared Hess deliver a sugar rush spectacle
The Overworld elements are so mind-numbingly chaotic in execution and rhythm that once we return to the real world of Idaho, the entire experience has the headache-inducing thrill of coming down from a sugar rush. Hess and crew throw everything at the viewer humanly possible, such as references, Minecraft characters, jokes, and musical numbers, and that is the first twenty minutes of navigating the Overworld.
The amount of detail the team tried to stuff into one film takes on the feeling of not moderating how much candy one eats in one sitting. The effort may be an attempt to keep children stimulated for the entire runtime, and if so, it might be a success for the little ones. However, some adults may experience side effects. But many of these issues find redemption through the outstanding comedic chemistry of Black and Momoa.
Jack Black and Jason Momoa give A Minecraft Movie a pulse
For an attempt at adapting a lucid movie out of Minecraft, Black, and Momoa take it to the max in their respective roles. Throughout the experience, both actors bring the film to life as if they chose to star in the world’s strangest buddy comedy. They share moments of camaraderie, but they also engage in rivalry. Garrett often leads in trying to outshine Steve, who has a wildly animated personality. Their antics blend a bromance with physical comedy, and even though the humor is nonsensical, they often deliver genuine laughs. For example, a scene in the trailer depicts characters flying off a cliff with wings, except for Steve, who boldly leaps off the same cliff while shouting, “Coming in hot.” The moment has a punchline that is withheld from the trailer, showing off Jared Hess’ signature comedic approach.
Jack Black, at the spritely age of 55, delivers one of the liveliest performances of his career, even in a film that may not deserve it. If there’s any glimmer of spark in this movie, he is the driving force behind it. Similarly to Nicolas Cage, Black pours his soul into every scene, regardless of the film’s shortcomings. However, due to Momoa and Black’s shadow, the young cast members, Hansen and Myers, get sidelined more than they deserve.
A Minecraft Movie wears its big stupid heart on its sleeve
One thing nobody will argue while watching A Minecraft Movie is whether Jared Hess had complete creative control over his own movie. The film is better than it has any right to be and delivers genuine laughs. The film is also unapologetically stupid. Like a “Dad Joke,” the punchline intends to make one cringe and eye-roll, and that brand of humor has always been a Jared Hess specialty. However, witnessing Jennifer Coolidge share a fancy romantic evening with a Minecraft Villager is worth the price of several Dad Jokes.
The movie is shameless in its humor, storytelling, and world-building. The Creepers invade every twenty minutes in the world of this movie, just like the game. Yet, for some reason, every character loves the Overworld. But who cares when Jack Black is singing about Lava Chicken for no reason? The film is nonsensically self-aware, reminiscent of Hess’s early works. While the film overloads the chaos, A Minecraft Movie is likely to become a cult classic, regardless of critical reception, including my own. At its core, the film has a big, dumb heart, but the overall experience might come with some unexpected side effects.
A Nice Indian Boy Combines Heart, Humor, and Hope
The Penguin Lessons is a Wholesome Yet Conventional Story About a Man and His Penguin
