Elijah Marie Velasco
The characters from “A Minecraft Movie.”
About halfway through “A Minecraft Movie,” I realized I had no idea what I had just watched.
Scenes were playing, characters were talking, action was unfolding–but none of it stuck. Despite Minecraft being one of the most iconic games ever, its new live-action movie has some fans thinking: Who asked for this?
On April 4, “A Minecraft Movie” hit theaters. Even before the trailer dropped, audiences had mixed feelings. With a cast including Jack Black as Steve, Jason Momoa as Garett Garrison, Emma Myers as Natalie, Jennifer Coolidge as Marlene, Danielle Brooks as Dawn, and Sebastian Hansen as Henry, the movie had potential–but many fans were quick to dismiss it.
When the trailer was released, TikTok and other platforms exploded with criticism. Users mocked the awkward dialogue, CGI, and a storyline that fell far from the spirit of the game. Videos like “Ranking the Cringiest Parts of the Minecraft Trailer” went viral, and the internet’s reaction was mostly confusion and disappointment.
The movie begins on a hopeful note. Siblings Henry and Natalie move to a small town in Idaho after their mom passes away and Natalie steps up as a parent figure for her brother. We meet Garett Garrison, a washed-up gamer who runs a failing game store, and Dawn, a realtor with a lot of side hustles. There’s also Marlene, a vice principal whose scenes surprisingly steal the show.
The group accidentally gets pulled into a portal to the Overworld—Minecraft’s world—and meets Steve. Together, they fight zombies, Ghasts, and other mobs while trying to stop the villain Malgosha from destroying the Overworld’s creativity using the Orb of Dominance.
“I’ll say it’s a predictable movie,” said staff writer Marcus Gacusan. And that sums it up. The movie follows a standard adventure plot, adding little freshness. The pacing drags in the middle, with slow action and flat emotions. Jack Black brings loud energy as Steve, which kids might enjoy, but it feels over the top and confusing for others.
Despite preaching the value of creativity, the film mostly plays it safe. However, it’s quiet, weird moments, like Marlene’s strange but sweet bond with a villager, add charm to the otherwise boring, yet outlandish film.
Star Rating: 3/5 stars