It is the year of our Lord 2025, and if you haven’t seen A Minecraft Movie by now, it is probably on purpose. My children had mentioned “chicken jockey” and “lava chicken” many times. We finally decided to see what the fuss was all about this past Sunday afternoon. Even for the 2 p.m. showing, there were few seats to spare at our local theater.
I went into A Minecraft Movie the same way I go to many movies. I was mostly oblivious to the movie’s plot line but curious. I want to experience it with no foregone conclusions and let the movie speak for itself. The premise of A Minecraft Movie is exceptionally simplistic, and it makes no effort to explain why certain things work or happen (no spoilers here). I caught myself audibly (but quietly) questioning what was going on during certain weird set pieces and motifs. Thankfully, my wife informed me that it was directed by Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess. At that moment, the beats, scenes, and characters all fit. As an avid Napoleon Dynamite fan, I knew to settle in for an enjoyable, if not odd, ride.
Jack Black (as Steve) effectively plays himself in the film. He brings all the wackiness, raucous random singing, and hand motions you would expect from his acting catalog. Part of me wonders if he had a script. Maybe he was given a few prompts and some names for items in the movie from the game. Then he was let loose while the cameras rolled. If you are a fan of Jack Black, then you will like his performance in this movie. If you aren’t, fear not, I present Jason Momoa.
I haven’t seen much of Momoa’s past work, though I am vaguely familiar with how widely he is loved by audiences. He sold me on the movie. I envisioned him as a Napoleon Dynamite archetype 20 or so years after the aptly named movie happened. His quirky behavior, bravado, and brazen ignorance of his limits and current life situations allow you to enjoy the performance and balance out Jack Black’s Steve masterfully.
Other honorable mentions include Jennifer Coolidge as the Vice Principal, who had one of my favorite lines from the film: “Finnish? I thought he was Swedish.” Sebastian Eugene Hansen as Henry, Emma Myers as Natalie, and Danielle Brooks as Dawn round out a cast that, while portraying incredibly disparate characters, gel seamlessly.
All that being said, A Minecraft Movie isn’t bulletproof. It is a PG-rated movie intended for young audiences. Jack Black’s character comes out with some language at a frequency that gives me pause. This only doubles down on my questioning in regards to where the language comes up. “Lava Chicken” is an example of this. It’s catchy and my kids like to sing it, but they have to self-censor (which I am happy for) because lava chicken, as a food, apparently is “good as h***.” My kids shared with me that some of their friends have permission to repeat certain phrases. They can do this only if the phrases are “part of a song”, but are not allowed to say them in other situations. Parenting techniques notwithstanding, was the language necessary? Was the movie truly for a young audience?
Minecraft the game is fine for any age, so why include questionable content in A Minecraft Movie? There are a few other examples of content that seem out of place. However, the language caught my attention the most. Are we so free with language around children now? Should we be? Lord, let Your discernment speak loudly to us.
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:28-29 (ESV)
This is an action-adventure film that features some fighting between animated and live-action characters. However, the action is balanced with humor, maintaining the film’s overall whimsical and lighthearted tone. From what I recall, all scenes are tastefully done and keep the intensity appropriate for a family audience.
As a Christian and father, I felt mostly comfortable leaving the theater with my family, knowing that we would need to have minimal conversations with our children aged 12, 11, and 8 regarding the content. Was the movie enjoyable? Yes. (It was fire, according to my 11-year-old.) Was there content I wouldn’t like my children to repeat? Also yes.
Have more conversations come up among a slew of YouTube Shorts and memes that their friends repeat ad nauseam? YES! But, this is the role of a parent trying to raise their children in God’s ways: having conversations and dialoguing about what is happening in the world around us, whether we agree with it or not.
At the end of the day, A Minecraft Movie will become a staple resource for memes. It will also inspire quotes and return viewings. Let us be prepared to guide our children through the nuances of right and wrong that the movie blindly barrels through.
Watch A Minecraft Movie trailer here