Film Review: ‘A Minecraft Movie’ will no doubt appeal more to gamers than casual audiences
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THE best-selling video game of all time has made its inevitable transition to big-screen adaptation in .
Taking note from the hyper-successful , director Jared Hess has faithfully captured the iconic aesthetic of Minecraft and its various characters in such a way as to satisfy fans of the game while also welcoming uninitiated newcomers – or to use the technical term: parents.
is certainly a family-friendly film, but one that no doubt will appeal more to gaming veterans than casual audiences. However, not being overly versed in Minecraft lore myself, I still found enough to enjoy in this unabashedly ridiculous film.
The plot is simple and frankly irrelevant. A group of down-on-their-luck misfits stumble upon a mystical orb and are transported to the Minecraft world – a puzzling, cubic landscape where creativity trumps conventional physics. They soon encounter Steve, a mysterious crafter who guides them through this new world. What follows is a dizzying adventure punctuated with plenty of colorful action, gaming references and just enough of a comedic element to keep the whole experience light and entertaining.
Jack Black stars as the heroic Steve, essentially playing a heightened version of himself in a typical Jack Black performance. While his performance could be condemned as lazy, Black’s eccentric energy lends itself perfectly to the zany nature of this film. He seems perfectly aware of the type of film he is in and so relies on a tongue-in-cheek delivery of every line. So, too, does Jason Momoa as former gaming champion Garett Garrison. Momoa’s performance is intentionally broad and even borders on slapstick. While not every joke of his lands, he shares an infectious chemistry with Jack Black that radiates from the screen and makes for some undeniably funny moments.
I will admit I am not holding this film to the standard I would hold most other movies. But nor does the film itself. This is by no means high-brow cinema and the filmmakers themselves seem fully aware of that fact. was purely intended as easy entertainment, capitalising on a well-known IP, and that’s exactly what it is. Of course, not everything works. It is often distractingly noticeable that the actors are performing on green screen, but that can only be expected when immersing live-action characters in a video-game world. Put simply, I think the target audience will appreciate for what it is. While it may not be remembered as anything special in years to come, today it can be enjoyed as a fun time at the cinema.
