a comedy Rorschach test
We went as a family and honestly, we laughed out loud more times than I can count. I looked around the theater and noticed something strange: half the crowd was in hysterics, and the other half sat in total silence. That’s when I realized what this movie is—it’s a comedy Rorschach test. If the movie’s completely unhinged sense of humor clicks with you, you’re in for one of the wildest rides of your life. If it doesn’t... well, sorry. You’ll probably spend 90 minutes suffering quietly while reaching for your phone.
The plot, such as it is, takes place in two realities: the “real world” (which already runs on cartoon logic) and the Minecraft world (where logic takes a long walk off a short cliff). In the “real” world, one of our five protagonists, Henry, gets in trouble for being creative in art class and then proceeds to build a jetpack that accidentally blows up the town’s beloved potato mascot. That kind of chaotic, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs-style energy is what powers the “Normal” world.
And then we get to the Minecraft world, and folks… buckle up.
There’s a plot—something about the Overworld being threatened by monsters from the Nether—but honestly, that’s just an excuse to bounce from one absurd set piece to the next. Like when Jack Black (as Steve, but really just peak Jack Black™) sings the "La-la-la-lava chi-chi-chi-chicken" song while casually setting poultry on fire. Or the midair “man sandwich” sequence with Jason Momoa. Or the boxing match against a baby zombie riding a chicken. Nothing makes sense, and that’s the whole joke. It's ridiculous on purpose.
And yet, somehow, it’s also incredibly faithful to the game. Every little Minecraft detail is there—the tools, the mobs, the crafting, the rules of redstone, even the Nether portal mechanics. You can tell this was made by people who actually play Minecraft. It’s not just a cash grab (Well, it is, but… you know), This thing is a love letter to the weirdest game on Earth, made by fans who clearly adore it.
Now, when the first trailer dropped, everyone was like, “Wait, why does everything look so squishy and soft?” I had that same reaction. Minecraft is sharp, blocky and pixilated. This is… a pillowy nightmare. But honestly? The CGI is beautiful. Even though the aesthetic is utterly bonkers, it’s executed with so much confidence that I couldn’t help but be impressed. Dumb? Yes. But also? awesome. Just like the movie itself.
There are some issues. The two female leads are kind of... there. They don’t do much to move the plot forward, and they fade into the background compared to the explosive trio of Henry, Steve, and Garret “The Garbage Man” Garrison (who was probably supposed to be played by Dr. Disrespect). It's a shame, because the movie has so much energy that I wanted every character to feel equally essential.
And as for Jack Black? You thought he went full Jack Black in Tenacious D? You thought Bowser was unhinged? Oh honey, you have no idea. There isn’t a single line of dialogue that this man says like a normal human being. He screams, sings, whispers, howls, chants, yodels—it’s like he’s trying to summon an ancient Minecraft god through the power of vocal jazzercise. I mean this in the best way possible. My kids walked out of the cinema talking like Jack Black. “What do you guys want to eat?” “I want… a big mac!”.
So yeah. This movie? It’s stupid. Gloriously stupid. But it knows exactly what it is. It doesn’t try to be profound or emotional or Oscar-worthy. It's not trying to hammer you over the head with any message, It just wants to throw you into a lava-soaked, pickaxe-smashing, chicken-exploding sugar rush of insanity—and it does. With confidence.
If you’re the kind of person who can appreciate a good absurd joke and you’ve ever touched Minecraft, you’ll probably love it. If you’re bringing your kids? Even better. This is like The Super Mario Bros. Movie on energy drinks. It's unfiltered joy mixed with a little bit of brain damage.
Final Score: 9/10 - for what it's trying to be , it's nearly perfect.
