Unless you are one of those poor, unfortunate souls living under a rock or in an out-of-the-way cave for the past fourteen years, you surely have heard of Minecraft, one of the most popular sandbox games ever. What is a sandbox game, you ask? Well, it is a game that is essentially a tabula rasa that lets you build whatever you want. You have a clean slate, and a set of tools, and minimal limits.

Jack Black continues his run playing video game characters, jumping from playing the villain, Bowser from Super Mario Brothers to Steve, Minecraft’s stock character turned main hero.

Always the curious child, Steve was always drawn to the mine but never allowed in. As an adult (and with Jack Black one can only use the term loosely) Steve decides to leave his stuffy, corporate job and mine the mine to his heart’s desire. And there he discovers the orb (still a cube, naturally) which brings him to the overworld, a place of infinite possibilities, so long asneverything is made from boxes, basically.

It is that feeling of endless creativity that made the game such a hit, and that also is what the minds behind the movie hope will call droves of viewers to theaters. With a built-in following loyal players, though, that is guaranteed.

Jason Mamoa plays Garette, an old, self-absorbed has-been gamer who never grew up and is still living in his glory days. Down on his luck, Garette is looking for the next big thing to save him from being out on the street.

Mamoa and Black both have a particular charm and natural endearing childish energy to them that it really doesn’t look at all like they’re putting any effort into acting in the film, as much as they’re just hanging out and having a heck of a time. Their roles are tailored for them, and they slip into them like a glove.

The graphics are pretty good and are absolutely on point with the style of the game. There are a lot of funny moments, sometimes bordering on slapstick, but clean and family-friendly.

Minecraft gives you a straightforward, uncomplicated thrill of a time. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you. Don’t look for a fantastic plot or well-defined, moving characters. Don’t look for the meaning of life. While far from completely mindless, it still doesn’t take many brain cells to enjoy. 

The whole premise of falling into a portal that brings you into a magical world of cubes filled with zombies, skeleton warriors, and rampaging anthropomorphic pigs is ludicrous, nonsensical, and, therefore, a fantastic amount of fun.