“A Minecraft Movie” is a story that grapples with nostalgia and innovation. Yet, where should one start when approaching the intricacies of this film: the several references to pop culture moments and childhood memories for the many Gen Z audience members, the strangely loving bromance between Jack Black and Jason Momoa’s characters Steve and Garrett or the lack of true personality of any of the three female main characters?
The film’s central plot is generally based on exploring the common aspects of the Minecraft game, from village structures to searching for the dark forest mansion. Each aspect of the film remained entirely faithful to its source material and yet allowed for a new immersive spin, full of Jack Black’s humor and a story of self-discovery. “A Minecraft Movie” diverges away from its typical following of Steve and instead follows a young boy, Henry, who has lost his mother and has been forced into a small town in Idaho, where he will be raised by his sister. Due to the rural setting, he and his sister experience a lack of creative freedom and are drawn to other adventures (i.e., Garrett’s vintage video game store). Down on his luck, Garrett participates in storage box sales to try and find rare vintage ataris and sell them for high prices. Instead, he stumbles upon the cube that gives entrance into the world of Minecraft. Following the creation of the Minecraft portal, a typical ragtag team of explorers, Henry, the young boy, Garrett, the old video game legend, Dawn, the realtor and exotic pet seller and Natalie, the sister of Henry. Having fallen into this new world, they band together and attempt to save the Minecraft world from the Netherworld.
While the main plot was fine, considering the movie is about Minecraft, it did not have complexities and deeper meanings like the 2023 film “Barbie” did about Hasbro’s line of dolls. Not only did it not have these complexities, but it also did not pass the Bechdel test. The Bechdel test is a movie test that examines the female characters in a movie and notes whether or not their conversations with each other center a man. The film features three female characters, including Jennifer Coolidge, who acted as more of a cameo, given her relationship with a villager who escaped into the real world. The other two, Natalie and Dawn — played by Emma Myers and Danielle Brooks — traveled into the Minecraft world and participated in fights, yet their focus throughout the film was the male protagonist Henry. They even paused mid-battle to cheer when Garrett and Henry got their crystal back. The lack of attention to the female characters was disheartening for many of the female Minecraft fans and women in general, especially after the success of “Barbie,” which made efforts to focus on both female and male issues, both on a greater and more personal level.
Yet the movie had several saving graces for fans, including many pop references — one of these being a pig with a crown on his head and Jack Black’s line “that’s a legend.” The scene referenced the late YouTuber Technoblade, who passed from cancer several years ago. Sebastian Hansen, Henry in the film, was the inspiration for this tribute, according to the director, Jared Hess, in an interview with Collider.
“One of my favorite Easter eggs came from Sebastian, who plays Henry,” Hess said. “When we were prepping the film, he was like, ‘Look, there’s this amazing Minecraft player named Technoblade who passed away, and I would love to be able to honor him somehow in the film.’”
Not only was tribute paid to Minecraft YouTubers, but several internet jokes and memes were placed into the film, such as the popular joke that “the children yearn for the mines,” said again by Jack Black at the beginning of the film.
Sophomore Veronica Cordero thought that the movie successfully appealed to its target audience: young kids.
“My favorite part was all of the little kids at the movie theater. If I were that age, I would definitely be excited,” Cordero said. “I was a big Minecraft player.”
Beyond the nostalgia was a second exciting premise: the deep bromance between Jack Black and Jason Momoa. Having never acted in a film together, fans were excited to see how the duo’s chemistry fared, and after seeing the film, I can attest that they did not disappoint. Jack Black and Jason Momoa’s characters begin with a friendly rivalry with hilarious moments, like eating flaming chicken and failing at creating weapons. Yet, as the film continued, there were several moments between the two that had the entire theatre gasping and hiding their chuckles, such as the Elytra scene. Within this scene, Jack Black physically rides Jason Momoa, and they end up in several compromising positions — Black’s innuendos, which may have flown over the heads of the younger audience, catered to the adult fans who grew up playing the game.
All in all, “A Minecraft Movie” was hilarious, full of Jack Black and Jason Momoa debauchery and jokes, while also encouraging kids not to lose their creativity. While not as deep and heartfelt as Warner Bros’ previous film, “Barbie,” it still had a lot of character. “A Minecraft Movie” is a funny film to watch with friends or family, especially if you grew up playing Minecraft and watching the old animated Minecraft films, which followed a similar storyline, but without that Jack Black charm.
