by G. E. Uke, Reporter
Certain subjects and intellectual properties are hard to represent in mainstream media because they have a large diverse fanbase. If you get anything wrong at all, you run the risk of fan backlash. While there is a measure of glory to these projects, they run a high risk of failure. Someone will always end up being offended by something, and victory in execution comes from how well one captures the feel of whatever it is they’re trying to showcase. The LEGO Movies were this way, and they are prime examples of how this sort of thing can be done right. I’m pleased to report that A Minecraft Movie managed to pull off the same spiritual victory.
A Minecraft Movie is dynamic, funny, and laden with enough secrets and easter eggs that a diehard Minecraft fan (like my kid) would consider it a fitting tribute to the source game. Everything about the absurdist romp was great fun to watch, mostly because the movie made fun of itself frequently with a sort of tongue-in-cheek affection I found ingenuous and charming. Jack Black is good at this, and his penchant for projecting and going “over the top” with his acting found fertile soil in this film.
I was also VERY amused by Jason Momoa in his role as the washed-up gamer Garett Garrison: an aging ’80s video game champion turned arcade owner resting on the non-existent laurels of his bygone glory days. I’m accustomed to Jason’s roles always having a certain degree of pride and gravitas…but in Minecraft he scarfed down a mountain of humble pie and leaned into the role of a pouty, insecure, childish gamer geek to absolute perfection. This role allowed him to be something new and fun, and I could tell he resonated with Jack Black to pull it off.
The other actors were…okay. Emma Myers was okay in her role as Natalie, and Sebastian Hansen did a decent enough job as her little brother Henry. Danielle Brooks was a pretty hilarious real estate agent slash zoo hustler named Dawn, and I did enjoy her acting quite a bit. But those roles could have been filled by just about anyone: the real action focused on Jack and Jason. I will add a special shout out to the voice actress for the villainous piglin Malgosha, Rachel House. She was very amusing to listen to, because of how childish and direct she was.
I will also add that the easter eggs in this movie come from many Minecraft related sources. The base game is present, but you also see stuff pulled from Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Legends when the invasion of the overworld kicks off. I thought this was faithful to the IP in ways that a casual viewer would never notice but a serious Minecraft lover would appreciate, and it’s details like these that make A Minecraft Movie a win for audiences.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives A Minecraft Movie 4.5/5 stars for its zany hilarity and faithfulness to the source material.
Please take a moment to FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to our updated ComicsOnline social channels.
We appreciate your support!
INSTAGRAM – COMICSONLINE
THREADS – COMICSONLINE
BLUESKY – COMICSONLINE
YOUTUBE – COMICSONLINE
FACEBOOK – COMICSONLINE
Grab your Minecraft friends and join ComicsOnline for more reviews, more exclusive interviews, and everything geek pop culture!
