I've Never Played Minecraft, But I Did See the Movie

I should be a massive Minecraft fan. I was the target age for the game when it first started to gain popularity. I remember classmates in my elementary school computer labs playing Minecraft in between rounds of CoolMathGames and Happy Wheels. I remember recess debates about the merits of Markiplier vs. CaptainSparkelz gameplay. I even remember the tie-in books that were always bestsellers at Scholastic Book Fairs (along with crazy erasers and fidget spinners). Despite all of that, I've never played a single second of Minecraft.

A few of my friends tried to explain the game to me throughout my time at school, but I was too busy playing Club Penguin and Papa's Pizzeria to care much about the cubic world of Creepers and Sniffers. I'm so clueless that I had to use Google just to write that sentence. I guess that when it comes to Minecraft, I just missed the boat.

I think that's why I am so fascinated by A Minecraft Movie. I'm so used to being on the inside of a fandom—whether its Lord of the Rings, Marvel, or just pop culture in general—the role of outsider is new to me. Pre-release, I was ready to dismiss A Minecraft Movie as a cash-grab video game movie for kids, but it really seemed like I was missing something. Seeing the intense anticipation for the movie, followed by a record breaking box-office, and, of course, the viral videos showing hordes of pre-pubescent boys throwing food, tackling theatre employees, and screaming "CHICKEN JOCKEY!!!!" at the top of their lungs, I'll admit I was equal parts perplexed and intrigued, but even that isn't the whole story.

I probably would have skipped it if it hadn't been for my boyfriend. I mentioned casually that I might go see "that new Minecraft movie," and his eyes lit up. I didn't even know that he had played the game, but it soon became very clear that even if I was not the target audience, he certainly was. Now that I had someone on board who could guide me through my maiden voyage into the world of Minecraft, I figured, why not? His excitement was infectious, and maybe I really would end up enjoying the movie.

Before we even sat down in the movie theatre, I knew that something about this experience was going to be different. For starters, there was a brand new security line at the front of the theatre, complete with a bag check. Based on the aforementioned viral videos and a sign that read "ALL Minecraft merch is sold out," I'm guessing the security wasn't there for screenings of Paddington in Peru.

As we approached the front of the line, I started to get nervous about the bootlegged candy I had stashed on my person. Lucky for me though, just ahead of us was a 30-something year old man who was trying to smuggle a whole six-pack of coolers into the theatre. Though I was shocked, I was happy to have the attention diverted from my bulging pockets.

Successfully past the first obstacle, we made our way to our seats. They were taken. The packed theatre left no room for error, and a group of high school boys had mistakenly sat in our places. No biggie, except for the fact that a mom and her two kids came in right after us, leaving our row over maximum occupancy. After some awkward conversations and shuffling around, everything was sorted and the trailers started to roll. Challenge number two conquered.

Soon the yelling started, but it wasn't coming from who I expected. During the trailers, a dad sitting up front with his kids was talking pretty loudly, but I try to have some grace about these things before the movie starts. Then the preview for the new Superman movie popped up on screen and he was off to the races, cheering and whooping throughout the whole thing. First his kids joined in the commotion, and then some more. And then some more. I looked at my boyfriend, and he looked at me. Two sets of eyebrows firmly in the air. We could tell that we were in for a ride.

I don't want to come off as a grumbly, no-fun, stick in the mud. I wasn't upset that people were having fun in the theatre. I think experiences like this are necessary to keep movie culture alive. There was no popcorn thrown and no drinks spilled during my screening, so I say let everyone enjoy themselves. I do think that the energy is different during A Minecraft Movie though. It's crazy almost for the sake of crazy. It's hard to tell the difference between genuine excitement and internet-fuelled mayhem.

In some ways, the theatre experience was what sold A Minecraft Movie for me. Without it, I'm not sure that the movie can stand up on its own, at least for someone unfamiliar with the game like me. As the movie got underway, I was captivated by the charisma of Jack Black and Jason Momoa, but pretty indifferent to everything else. It seems like the filmmakers were too. The story isn't even cooked enough to be half-baked, the character motivations are muddy, and the message about the importance of creativity, while commendable, comes off as a bit of an afterthought.

Because I didn't get the in-jokes and references, it was hard for me to find something to grab onto in Minecraft. But the sheer delight of the rest of the audience, including my boyfriend's, made it hard to have a bad time watching the movie. In some ways, it was kind of fun being the person asking, "Who's that?" and, "Why are they cheering?" I'm usually the one answering questions, not the other way around. Just as I expected, I needed a little guidance to understand the movie. At times, it almost seemed like a sitcom where the characters hold for laughter or applause. I just didn't get the punchline, everyone else did though.

I don't know if kids really yearn for the mines, but they definitely yearn for something. Maybe it's recognition. Every time the audience burst into applause or spontaneous shouts, I was hit with a genuine sense of community that I haven't felt since opening weekend of Avengers: Endgame. In fact, both my boyfriend and I made a comment that it was livlier during the Minecraft screening than when Captain America picked up Thor's hammer. If I was applauding for that, how can I be mad at the kids who are cheering for a baby zombie riding a chicken?

Even though that dad up front kept yelling and laughing a little too loud throughout the whole movie, I found that I didn't care. If I wasn't going to enjoy the ride, what was the point? The movie is simple, and goofy, and it doesn't take itself seriously at all, so that's what I tried to do too. As we were leaving, my boyfriend asked me if I thought the movie was good. "Absolutely not," I said, "but I had a good time." Then I asked him if he thought it was a good movie, "Of course I did. It's Minecraft."

It's clear that the people who made A Minecraft Movie love the source material and know their audience. It is equally clear that I fall well outside those bounds. I would never have chosen to watch this movie on my own. If I had, I think I would have had a miserable time. At home, on my couch, I probably wouldn't have made it to act two. But I'm glad I saw it. More than that, I'm glad I went to the theatre. Not only for Jack Black's genuinely good musical performances, but also because I got a glimpse into a new world; a new community. I'll probably never watch this movie again—and if I do, I might have a six-pack with me—but I had fun. Even if I don't think the movie is good in the general sense, maybe the people didn't want good. Maybe they just wanted Minecraft.