A Minecraft Movie

Okay here we go. This one was pretty divisive to say the least. On the one hand, the virality of the film and its mainstream appeal skyrocketed the box office numbers, making it hard to argue against the fact that this movie was quite popular. On the other hand, there are plenty of voices out there labeling this the "brain-rot" of modern film and expressing frustration over the obnoxious audience participation in cinemas. But I know y'all are here for my opinion, so here it is.

All in all, I had a very good time. The amount of fun that Jack Black and Jason Momoa are clearly having on screen translated very well for me. Absolutely the film was a goofy mess with some frankly off-putting blends of reality and CGI, but I cannot deny that its stupidity was part of its charm. Jack Black simultaneously doesn't take anything seriously and gives this role his all—a dedication I salute. I can tell from watching this film (and really any video of him that exists on the internet) that Jack Black would be a very fun person to know in real life.

A big part of me was tempted to hate the film going into it. After all, A Minecraft Movie has all the ingredients necessary to piss off pretentious film bros—it's a goofy blockbuster about an existing IP using corny jokes and big names to draw in audiences. But despite my expectations, the film was surprisingly self-aware. Leaning into the silliness made for an absolutely absurd, but in many ways charming, experience.

That being said, I can't claim the film is any masterpiece. I won't really remember—and indeed have already forgotten—all of the side characters beyond our two main actors. And even with the consistent swinging for the fences of many of the film's jokes, there were plenty of moments that fell very flat for me. But at the end of the day, I have to remember that I'm not the target audience, and the film probably worked for a lot of kids who are growing/grew up with the game. I'm glad that I got a small something out of the film, and seeing Jack Black on the big screen is always a pleasure.