★★ out of 5 -- Rated: PG -- Run time: 1 hour, 41 minutes
The idea of a movie based on a popular video game is hardly new. “Mortal Kombat,” “Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Tomb Raider,” and “Gran Turismo” are just a few of the titles that made the transition to the big screen.
One video game that hadn’t received the Hollywood treatment was the biggest seller of all time: 2011’s “Minecraft.” And it hasn’t been for a lack of trying.
A movie version was first announced in 2014 with Shawn Levy of the “Night at the Museum” franchise slated to direct. He eventually departed, and the reins went to “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star Rob McElhenney…and then to Peter Sollett of “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”….and finally to Jared Hess, whose credits include “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Nacho Libre.”
There were multiple scripts by multiple writers, with more delays because of COVID and guild strikes. But now, “A Minecraft Movie” is finally hitting theaters.
Was it worth the wait? Let’s forge on.
We’re quickly introduced to the main characters. There’s Steve (a default character in the game), who’s played by a more wild-looking-than-usual Jack Black. Steve has dreamed his whole life of working in the secretive local mining operation, where he soon uncovers the mysterious Orb of Dominance.
He enters the Overworld, a colorful land where cubes are the overriding design feature, with block-headed animals and other characters -- not all of them nice.
The sets and production design of this New Zealand-shot movie are really first-rate.
Meanwhile, plenty is going on in the more normal local town.
There’s Jason Momoa as Garrett “The Garbageman” Garrison, the owner of a small video gaming store that he’s struggling to keep open. He’s cocky but not that bright, with a flashy old Pontiac Firebird and an over-the-top wardrobe featuring lots of fringe.
The other main characters include new arrivals Natalie and Henry -- a sister and brother played by Emma Myers, from the TV series “Wednesday,” and Sebastian Hansen.
Rounding out the main cast is Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple,” “Orange Is the New Black”) as their eccentric friend/real estate agent/mobile zoo operator.
They enter a portal and find themselves in the dangerous Overworld, where they link up with Jack Black’s character and realize they need to get super-creative to achieve their goals in this strange land.
Early on in the film, there’s enough interesting character development, plus some clever lines (“The only thing missing was my soul,” says Jack Black about his boring job), that I started to feel pleasantly optimistic that this movie would far exceed expectations.
Myers is especially good as the protective older sister and has real screen presence. Momoa plays against type as a big, tough guy who, in reality, gets easily scared and is squeamish. It’s very funny at first, but after 10 or 11 times of him shrieking out loud, the joke wears thin.
The same goes for Jack Black, who does his usual Jack Black shtick of over-emphasizing words in his delivery, something that the director really should have reined in.
The snappy dialogue from early in the film starts to disappear, which is a shock because the movie is overstocked with writers. (There are five, count ‘em, five in the screenplay credits.)
The last third of the movie is just big, special effects battle scenes that are technically impressive, but frankly, it’s just another display of VFX. Having more of a story would have been better.
One pleasant surprise -- Jennifer Coolidge (“White Lotus”) has a small but fun role as a recently divorced vice-principal who runs down and then has a romance with one of the block-headed Overworld residents.
Maybe the primary audience for “A Minecraft Movie” is the gamers. There were a few around me at the screening who seemed to really enjoy the film. (A small group broke into applause when Jack Black’s character announces, “I am Steve.”)
I really didn’t get it. And I suspect that a lot of audiences might not get this movie either.