Minecraft Is A Movie You Would Love To Hate

When Warner Bros released the movie Minecraft, starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, to cinemas worldwide on April 4. I was curious to see how such an open-ended, peaceful play-and-build game could be turned into a high-stakes action comedy. I didn’t expect perfection, just efforts, but I did hope for something that honored the spirit of the game.

Premise

The story follows four individuals whose lives seemed to be a hot mess that craves for an adventure. Minecraft movie has its plot centered on Henry, a gifted young boy struggling with grief; his overprotective sister, Natalie; Dawn, a blunt real estate agent; and Garrett Garrison, a former arcade champion played by Jason Momoa.

Their lives take an unexpected turn when they’re sucked into the pixelated Overworld of Minecraft. There, they meet Steve, played by Jack Black, who has been trapped in this world for years after being exiled by General Chungus and his boss, Malgosha, a humanoid pig sorceress determined to erase creativity from existence.

What’s supposed to be a heartwarming tale of rediscovery and bravery becomes a loud musical sprinkled with outdated tropes. The group must work together to defeat Malgosha and bring balance back to the Minecraft world, but the film’s tone is all over the place, trying too hard to impress and rarely landing the mark.

Cast Performance

Jack Black plays Steve with his usual comedic energy, but instead of adding charm, it borders on exhausting and a bit out of touch. His performance felt like a parody of himself, and instead of being the highlight, it came off as forced

Jason Momoa as Garrett was amusing in some scenes, but the character felt stuck in the past, clinging to his glory days like a man in denial. It was hard to tell if his confusion was part of the role or a reaction to the script.

Danielle Brooks’ portrayal of Dawn was refreshing. She had presence, she had timing, and she injected life into scenes that otherwise dragged. Her character was firm, expressive, and gave the story the grounded energy it desperately needed.

Sebastian Eugene, who played Henry, carried an innocence and curiosity that worked well for a character meant to represent imagination and longing for freedom. His character was a relatable one, and at times, quite touching. I mean, he’s just a kid, let him explore.

Emma Myers, playing Natalie, gave a performance that many older siblings will find relatable. Her uptight, watchful nature clashed beautifully with Henry’s free spirit, and while her character didn’t always get the depth she deserved, Emma made it work.

What I Liked About The Minecraft Movie

Despite its flaws, there were a few things that worked. The side plot involving a Villager and Jennifer Coolidge’s character, Marlene, was unexpectedly sweet and strange in a way that Minecraft often is. Their odd romance was one of the few moments that didn’t feel manufactured.

Some parts of the soundtrack, inspired by C418’s haunting game music, would bring back memories of long, quiet builds and survival nights only those who played the actual game can relate to. A few shots of the Nether dimension, though brief, were visually captivating.

Danielle Brooks’ character stood out as a much-needed anchor. She brought levity, maturity, and just enough sass to make scenes feel lived in.

What I Didn’t Like About The Minecraft Movie

The film was fast. Not in a thrilling way, but in a disorienting, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it way. The CGI was aggressive and flashy, but never refined. Action scenes looked like a video game loading error, and emotional moments were glossed over for the next punchline or explosion.

The handling of gender roles was lazy at best. The boys got to explore, battle, and do cool things on screen. The girls, on the other hand, built a house and tamed dogs off-screen. We never got to witness their creativity or resilience. They just became background support.

The writing leaned heavily on tropes. The misunderstood genius boy, the annoying big sister, the washed-up mentor, the witch-like villain. It felt like every overused idea thrown into one chaotic soup, without any thought to heart as to what makes Minecraft so powerful.

Verdict

A Minecraft Movie tried to be everything at once: a musical, an adventure, a comedy, but in trying to do so much, it lost what made Minecraft special. The beauty of the game lies in its stillness, its freedom, and its quiet invitation to imagine. The film chose slapstick over subtlety, spectacle over soul.

It had the budget, it had the fanbase, and it had the potential. But it wasted all three on recycled clichés and surface-level storytelling. What could have been a celebration of creativity became an over-produced product that barely scratched the surface of what Minecraft truly is.