Rated: PG
My Rating: 4/10
Alright, I’ll just say it, A Minecraft Movie is not great. It’s loud, it’s colourful, and it’s clearly made for kids. Which is fine, it’s just not for me. As someone who grew up with Minecraft, this film doesn’t quite capture what made the game so special. It’s more about chaos and cringey jokes than creativity or adventure.
Jack Black plays Steve yep, that Steve. And look, I love Jack Black. He’s a legend. But in this? I don’t get it. Steve is meant to be this blank-slate kind of character, a silent type we all projected ourselves onto. But here, Jack’s just cracking one-liners every five seconds, and it completely pulls you out of it. I couldn’t stop thinking, “Why cast him in this role at all?” He’s doing his usual thing, and sure, kids might find it funny but it didn’t land for me.
Then there’s Jason Momoa as Garret, the Garbage Man… and yeah, his character grated on me. He’s meant to be the heart of the story, but instead, he just feels like a walking cliché with zero subtlety. The rest of the cast isn’t much better, with performances that are either totally over-the-top or flat as a pancake. It’s hard to care about what’s happening when no one on screen seems that invested.
Visually, it’s what you’d expect, bright, flashy, and very blocky. That part, I guess, is spot on for the Minecraft vibe. There are a few fun action set-pieces and nods to the game that younger fans will probably love. But for me, it felt more like watching someone else play a modded chaos version of Minecraft than diving into the spirit of the game.
Also, considering this film was first announced over a decade ago, I expected a bit more. After all that time, you’d think they’d have figured out how to make it feel a bit more polished or meaningful. But honestly, it just feels rushed and messy, like it’s trying to cash in on the name without doing the work to honour what Minecraft actually means to players.
That said, I’m not the target audience. Kids will probably have a blast with the silly humour, the bright visuals, and the action-packed scenes. And if this gets more young ones into Minecraft, then fair enough, mission accomplished.
For longtime fans of the game, A Minecraft Movie will probably be a letdown. It’s noisy, shallow, and doesn’t offer much beyond some slapstick and pixelated chaos. But for the younger crowd? It might just be the kind of silly fun they’re after. Still, after all that waiting, it just wasn’t worth the hype and that’s why I rate it a 4/10.