'A Minecraft Movie' review: Jack Black levels up breezy video game adaptation

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

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On paper, it’s kind of wild that “Minecraft”—the highest-selling video game of all time—has never gotten the big-screen treatment until now. Released in 2011 by Mojang Studios, the game has defined an entire generation, immersing players in a world of villagers, creepers, and, uh, zombified piglins. Fortunately, “Napoleon Dynamite” director Jared Hess seems to understand the mechanics of this world well enough to deliver “A Minecraft Movie”—a perfectly serviceable, and surprisingly not nauseating, film adaptation. 

Most of its success rests on Jack Black, who, like “Minecraft” itself, has managed to transcend generations and build an enduring legacy (seriously, he should have gotten an Oscar nomination for “The School of Rock,” and I’m not even joking). For kids and adults alike, Black is a magnetic force, injecting whip-smart, zany energy into everything he does. He’s also a solid singer—something “A Minecraft Movie” wisely capitalizes on, much like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” Without him, I’m not sure Jason Momoa’s star power alone could have carried this thing, even though this is, unironically, the best performance of his career.

Unlike most video games that get adapted into films, “Minecraft” doesn’t have a set narrative. It’s an open-world, sandbox experience where players create their own adventures amid 3D-generated blocks. The game’s philosophy is simple: if you can imagine it, you can build it. Think LEGO, but digital. No goals, no missions, no objectives—just an infinite playground where you shape the story.

That freeform spirit isn’t entirely lost in “A Minecraft Movie,” which kicks off in small-town Idaho, where a recently orphaned brother-sister duo—Henry (Sebastian Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Meyers)—team up with washed-up 1980s gaming champion Garrett Garrison (Momoa, having some fun). On the verge of losing his storefront arcade and resale shop, Garrett joins forces with the kids, as well as local realtor-slash-portable-zoo-owner Dawn (Danielle Brooks), to save the Overworld. Together, they track down Steve (Black), a legendary “Minecraft” player who long ago abandoned the real world in favor of the block-building landscape, choosing to pillage and create his own destiny. You know, like in the game.

Visually, the Overworld is a treat—surprisingly immersive for a video game adaptation and refreshingly free of that over-polished green-screen look (“Spy Kids 3D: Game Over,” anyone?). I kept thinking about how the Overworld looked more believable than anything in the last “Captain America” movie—but I digress. The character designs—zombies, goats, bees—feel ripped straight from the game, and while I’m not well-versed in “Minecraft” lore, the kids in my theater were absolutely geeking out over the Easter eggs that screenwriter Chris Bowman sprinkled in. Even as a novice, I felt the movie did a solid job of explaining the mechanics of the world. 

Alas, our heroes must band together to stop an evil pig’s plan to destroy the Overworld forever. The plot revolves around a Tesseract-esque MacGuffin that serves as a portal between worlds, but honestly, it doesn’t make much sense. “A Minecraft Movie” is at its best when Black and Momoa are bouncing off each other or when a bizarre yet hilarious subplot involving Jennifer Coolidge romancing a villager unfolds. Since this version of “Minecraft” is framed as Steve’s story, the narrative is all over the place—which kind of makes sense. After all, the heart of the game is crafting your own adventure, no matter how messy or nonsensical it gets. That doesn’t always translate into an engaging movie, but things could have been much worse.

Instead, “A Minecraft Movie” never takes itself too seriously, leaning into Hess’ signature goofball sensibilities (“Gentlemen Broncos,” “Nacho Libre”) to smooth over the film’s clunkier aspects (a side quest involving Dawn and Natalie goes absolutely nowhere). But again, it all comes back to Jack Black, who always looks like he’s having the most fun in whatever project he’s in. Momoa, too, deserves some credit for nailing just the right mix of humor and heart as a washed-up gamer with an inferiority complex.

Who knows how many “Minecraft” movies will follow this one (something tells me quite a few). But as a first foray into this massive sandbox, “A Minecraft Movie” is a breezy, passable adaptation that captures the spirit of what makes the game so addictive. Given how disastrous this could have been—especially after that underwhelming first trailer—that’s a best-case scenario.

Grade: B- 

A MINECRAFT MOVIE opens in theaters Friday, April 4th.