A Minecraft Movie

The film’s anarchy might reflect a lot of younger players’ first experience with Minecraft, where destruction can be just as fun as creation. Missing on the big screen, meanwhile, is the odd, remote atmosphere that drew me in.

“A Minecraft Movie” is quirky and goofy enough to make one wish it held together better overall, but it’s also a likable venture.

Jack Black and Jason Momoa together, they're okay; so it's perfectly unremarkable.

It’s got enough personality to make me wish that Hess had had a still freer hand... Don’t mistake my curiosity for enthusiasm. I can’t recommend that anyone see A Minecraft Movie, not even a child.

Jared Hess directed Napoleon Dynamite. This movie is as if Napoleon Dynamite directed it, not Jared.

For a wildly imaginative world-building project, the film is mostly ghastly to look at... if the possibilities of this world are endless, why does it all devolve into violent, ugly, boring warfare?

The real star of the show, and the only thing that makes A Minecraft Movie something other than an wildly successful corporate branding exercise, is Jack Black as Steve, one of the skins players can choose to represent themselves on the map.

Surprisingly fun film that kids and teens will love. Full of in-game references and phrases, visually, this is an interesting experience. Momoa is a standout in a film that isn't great, but still offered a fun enough time at the movies

Hess’ film contains some entertaining moments, occasional jolts of energy that break up the perfunctory one-liners and endless blur of lifeless explosions, but not enough to prevent the final experience from becoming utterly forgettable.

While it offers lots of visual wows and shout-outs to those in the know, the movie really works because of the absurd macho competitiveness-turned-bromance between Jack Black and Jason Momoa.