If you’ve seen the first episode of “The Studio,” you’ll have a good idea where this review is heading. Brand-inspired movies aren’t new territory, and when done right—like “Barbie” and “The Lego Movie”—they can be spectacular. These films succeeded by establishing their own style, subverting expectations, and ultimately making audiences fall in love with the brand all over again.
A movie that doubles as an advertisement can still be compelling cinema, but its potential is ultimately tied to how well it resonates with general audiences. I loved “The Lego Movie” because I’m a Lego fan—I got all the references. While I’m not particularly a Barbie fan, I could appreciate the world it portrayed, its humour, heart, and narrative, which made me love it nonetheless. With Minecraft, I’m out of my element. Though I consider myself a gamer, I never got into Minecraft, and unfortunately, the film failed to draw me into its blocky universe. Ironically, I found myself more invested in the real-world segments than the Minecraft adventure itself.
Following Steve (Jack Black) and his team on their quest to save the Overworld (with a standout performance from Jason Momoa), viewers are subjected to an endless stream of exposition. The script repeatedly opts for telling rather than showing—endless details about the world that only Steve understands, or explanations of how things work. The dialogue frequently devolves into “here’s this thing, it does this, don’t touch that because of this” without letting the audience discover the world organically.
The film’s greatest strength lies in its portrayal of quirky human characters. Director Jared Hess brings his “Napoleon Dynamite” sensibilities to these scenes, particularly at the beginning when introducing the strange small town setting. I would have much preferred watching these characters solve their problems in their hometown, “Hot Rod” style, rather than witnessing their adventures in the Overworld.
On the “Jack Black scale,” I’d say he’s definitely being Jack Black here. Every other sentence ends with his signature flair, and he brings the perfect amount of energy to the film. However, he doesn’t seem fully unleashed. Burdened with delivering exposition, he rarely gets the chance to make those improvisational remarks that catch you off guard. His more memorable role explaining instruments in “School of Rock” is a great example of mixing in fun and explanation that isn’t boring.
Visually, the film is a little flat, there are moments where it’s glaringly obvious the actors aren’t actually flying or running alongside Minecraft characters. It’s the visual issues that will affect you as an adult watching them but your kid won’t care. They’re too busy laughing at a pig being killed…or as they actually say in the film, “unalived.” Let’s face it we all love a film from our childhood that you didn’t realise looks terrible now. One aspect of the film that could’ve been its potential saving factor, the soundtrack leaves something to be desired as well—current pop song needle drops feel uninspired, especially when other brand movies have done the same.
I’ve been critical, but I should note: if you love Minecraft, you’ll likely enjoy this film. That is literally the point of the film’s existence. While it might lose its charm on repeat viewings, countless kids are undoubtedly going to be thrilled to see their favourite game on the big screen. It’s a serviceable adventure film that children will appreciate, though it feels like a missed opportunity to reach a broader audience. It certainly won’t be establishing any new older fans.
“A Minecraft Movie” won’t blow you away like a creeper explosion. What it will do is make you want to see more of the talented cast in better material. If you’re a young Minecraft enthusiast, congratulations—your dreams of this world have come true. For average moviegoers, you’ll probably laugh out loud four or five times, but the rest might fly over your head and be forgotten by the end of the blockbuster season. Those few genuine laughs, however, might inspire you to seek out better character comedies. A Minecraft Movie, your kids are probably going to love it.
Score: 3/5