Reviewing the ‘Minecraft’ Movie

Christopher Lambert

Staff Writer

The ‘Minecraft’ movie was a comedy just right for the older part of Gen Z. It started out with explaining the storyline and a ton of one liners. When these are heard on the big screen, it is much funnier than when it is said out loud, making it a theater spectacle that was perfect and exactly what fans needed. 

Jack Black played Steve, and he was a perfect fit for the role. If you are going to view this movie as a serious movie about ‘Minecraft’, then this movie is not for you. Black’s delivery and facial expressions make his role as Steve more enjoyable. The undertone of the movie being satire really hammers this movie as a comedy everyone can laugh at. 

Jason Mamoa plays Garret Garrison, a millennial aged man who never grew up. He won a video game tournament when he was young and never got over it. As funny as the movie is, Mamoa’s character is clearly the comic relief, and he does a great job in his role. Mamoa is able to feed into the satire mood of the film with his line deliveries and his chemistry with Black on screen is noticeable. Black and Mamoa’s banter is funny and charismatic, it provides much of the comic relief of the movie.

There is not much cinematography in the movie, however, the scenes that are placed in the ‘Minecraft’ universe are great. The representation of the blocky world looks fantastic on the trees and ground, but also on the animals and villagers. The editors made it seem like ‘Minecraft’ had come to life.

The writing is comedic, and it is clearly a movie written for children. Not much of the writing is meant for adults who have no idea what ‘Minecraft’ is. While this movie is great for young kids, it is a funny and nostalgic movie for older Gen Z. There is a written plot to the movie which is easy to catch on to what is going to happen but the inclusion of one liners from the ‘Minecraft’ game makes the movie all worthwhile. 

While Black is a great comedic actor on his own, there has to be credit to the director, Jared Hess. He knew exactly what he was doing directing the one liners and how Black should say them. Mamoa’s performance really shows the work Hess put into the film because he has not starred in a heavily comedic role before and selecting him to play Garrison was perfect. If you know Mamoa’s previous performances, you know he is a jacked superhero who saves the day. Seeing him fulfill the role of someone who peaked in high school, how his personality and delivery blends so well with his acting goes to show that Hess nailed this film.

While the Minecraft movie may not be the best movie according to critics and reviewers, if you know the slightest bit about the video game, then this movie is for you. Viewers have specifically loved the one liner, “chicken jockey.” This has taken the nation by storm with movie goers throwing popcorn and setting fireworks off in the theater, safe to say this movie goes out with a bang.