“A Minecraft Movie” follows four misfits who are pulled into the Overworld after a mysterious portal opens. There, they have to master the cubic wonderland with the help of Steve to get back home.

There is no time wasted in explaining the lore of Steve, effectively introducing him as a character within the first 10 minutes. Through narration, the basic rules of the Overworld are also highlighted very quickly. The film doesn’t hold back on letting the audience know what kind of movie it’ll be early on.

If you’re laughing at the jokes in the flick’s early stages, then you’ll undoubtedly have fun. If you’re not laughing, “A Minecraft Movie” will probably be a drag to get through with its completely unserious nature.

Jack Black Goes All In

The entire cast is clearly having fun. Jack Black is the standout as Steve, going for broke with his signature voice, mannerisms and even some singing. Jason Momoa delivers a parody-like performance as Garett Garrison, fully committing to the absurdity. The chemistry between the two gives the film much of its energy.

Supporting cast members include Sebastian Eugene Hansen as Henry, Emma Myers as Natalie and Danielle Brooks as Dawn. Jennifer Coolidge also shows up, though her role feels tacked on. At 1 hour and 41 minutes, her character seems like filler to push the runtime just past the 90-minute mark.

Better Than Expected Visuals

One of the biggest surprises from “A Minecraft Movie” is the visual effects. Based on the initial trailer, expectations were low, but the CGI ends up being better than expected. There are a few missteps, but the movie fully leans into the blocky world of Minecraft in a way that feels immersive.

Silly By Design

“A Minecraft Movie” is clearly made for kids and fans of the game. It knows its audience and embraces that identity. There’s no serious plot here – just jokes, lore and easter eggs. It easily could’ve been a disaster, but somehow, it’s not. The film owns what it is, and that makes it surprisingly watchable.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5