Josephine Scannell
The lights dimmed in the theater, chatter slowed and quieted, as the nostalgic red and white Mojang loading screen filled the black screen, loading the audience into the world of Minecraft.
The story begins with the harrowing origin story of Steve. Played by Jack Black, Steve “yearned for the mines” as a child. After returning to his dream of the mines, he discovers a portal to the Overworld, the world the audience recognizes as Minecraft.
The landscape of the Overworld is nothing short of eye-catching. The cubic landscape makes the viewer question the validity of modern-day geometry, bringing to life the shared trauma spanning across generations of the sound of a creeper fizzling behind you.
However, in this serene world, there is a dark underbelly revealed as the Nether, seemingly ruled by the villain of the story, Malgosha. Played by Rachel House, Malgosha is presented as a three dimensional villain, her origin story—only mentioned once but still haunting the narrative—consisting of her passion for dance, and the humiliation she faced when she entered in Nethers Got Talent, a renowned talent show where she got her villainous start.
After the death of their parents, Natalie and Henry, played by Emma Myers and Sebastian Eugene Hansen respectively, move into Steve’s old house through their realtor Dawn, played by Danielle Brooks. The group finds their way to the Overworld with help from Garett Garrison (also known as Trashman), played by Jason Momoa. The four, along with Steve, battle Malgosha for the safety of the Overworld, defeating her in a battle of epic proportions.
Trashman, Jason Momoa, particularly shines in the film, with a redemption arc that rivals one of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. Trying to hold onto his glory days as a video game champion, he utters the most impactful line of the movie: “There is no I in team, but there is one in winning.”
During the heroes’ journey, a villager of the Overworld makes its way through the portal to Earth, stumbling into Henry’s school vice principal’s car, Vice Principal Marlene, played by Jennifer Coolidge. The two float down their own romantic subplot of the movie, during their story it is easy to forget about the main plot all together. The romance between the characters stirs the hearts of the audience, destined to be a love story to last generations.
At the end of the film this ragtag group of heroes battles Malgosha and her army. The sheer epic nature of the battle calls to mind the Battle of Pelennor Fields in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
‘A Minecraft Movie’ can only be described as a surreal experience, with twists, turns, and lines that could have only been written by someone with way too much time on their hands. From the epic scenery and romance to the musical numbers, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ is an unforgettable theatrical experience.