A Minecraft Movie
Bland and forcefully dramatic, A Minecraft Movie sets back video-game-to-film adaptations with its by-the-books premise and awkward dialogue. It follows a group of misfits, all underappreciated outsiders in their respective lives, who are sucked into a strange and blocky world with rules that celebrate ingenuity and creative spirit. Steve, a recluse who has long left the real world and become an expert in this new and dangerous territory, guides them through the forests and mines, hoping to rebuild the portal and take everyone back home. Conflict arises when everyone’s differing goals and selfish desires get in the way of their travels. There’s an attempt at emotional depth and plenty of action, all wrapped in generic storytelling, an abundance of rushed exposition and flat one-liners.
As evidenced by the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy, there’s a way to create child-focused stories based on video games with nuance and heart, something A Minecraft Movie does not do. The emotional core of the picture is the characters: their struggles and how their dreams are tied to this crafting world. Unfortunately, none of the cast have chemistry. Emma Myers and Sebastian Hansen have the near-impossible task of endearing the audience to the tense and confused family dynamic of siblings Nat and Henry. The clunky dialogue, the too-quick and meaningless montages, and the badly-delivered lines of comedy undermine the actors’ efforts to seem like a loving set of siblings. Steve’s relationship with his square-shaped wolf evokes more emotion out of the viewer than the plights of the orphaned brother and sister.
Even Jack Black, donning the role of Steve, naturally charismatic and an expert comedian, cannot salvage the awkward mess of the script. The only actors who truly shine in their roles are Jason Momoa and Jennifer Coolidge. The contrast in Momoa’s big hulking figure with the buffoonery of his character works like a comedic charm. Coolidge’s scenes sprinkled throughout are the most entertaining sequences, even with their lack of action or plot progression. But these little nuggets of fun run their course by the third act. The mindless jokes and expository montages and speeches are just tired accessories to an all-too-familiar story.
The visuals are one of the few positive aspects of the film. This new and strange world is vibrant and lush, and a lot of the creatures are cute to look at, making the battles fun to watch. Fans of the game will enjoy the multiple Easter eggs and references. However, for a feature whose central themes revolve around creativity and the beauty of self-expression, A Minecraft Movie is overall typical and dull. It doesn’t push any boundaries or offer anything new to the genre. Not even the big-name cast members can save it from feeling devoid of nuance and depth. There’s a way to embrace the ridicule and make off-beat humour work, as per Detective Pikachu and the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy, but A Minecraft Movie fails on both counts. The few shining aspects of Momoa, Coolidge, and decent animation can’t tide the viewer long enough to stay engaged to the very end.
Mae Trumata
A Minecraft Movie is released nationwide on 4th April 2025.
Watch the trailer for A Minecraft Movie here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
RSS