A Minecraft Movieis filled with references and connections to the video game, but as someone who never played it, the Easter eggs I really enjoyed were references to some mid-2000s comedies. For anyone who played the games, there are plenty ofA Minecraft Movie’s Easter eggs and referencesto catch. Everything from the water bucket release to chicken jockey have become moments audiences familiar with the IP are cheering about. But if you’ve never attempted to playMinecraftlike me, their significance goes right over your head.
A Minecraft Movieis definitely made with the video game community in mind. However, there are still elements to enjoy for casual moviegoers who are not completely in the know. I was still interested in seeing the movie to see Jack Black and Jason Momoa’s comedic abilities on display once more. There’s also the element of Jared Hess directing the film that made me curious. While I may not have playedMinecraftbefore,I have seen Hess' earlier movies,Napoleon DynamiteandNacho Libre, multiple times. Hess sneakily references them both inA Minecraft Movie, and I loved it.
A Minecraft Movie Includes Several Napoleon Dynamite References
Jared Hess Made His Directorial Debut With Napoleon Dynamite
Over 20 years before doingA Minecraft Movie, Jared Hess made his feature film directorial debut withNapoleon Dynamitein 2004. The movie became a surprise success and is one that I still fondly remember all these years later. I watched it repeatedly as a kid and teenager, so it was not lost on me whenA Minecraft Moviestarted to have a few subtle references toNapoleon Dynamite.The biggest is the importance of tater tots, which is Napoleon’s favorite snack and a meal with a deeper connection to Henry and Natalie inA Minecraft Movie.
The tots are the most direct reference toNapoleon DynamiteinA Minecraft Movie, but there are more I believe. Dawn has a llama as part of her petting zoo side hustle, and while llamas are creatures in theMinecraftvideo games, it’s also impossible for me to overlook that Napoleon Dynamite had a pet llama named Tina. I also can’t help but think the dance performance in Malgosha’s backstory is a reference to Napoleon’s school dance. Additionally, Natalie opening up a self-defense dojo inA Minecraft Movie’s endingcalls back to Napoleon going to Rex Kwon Do.
A Minecraft Movie Even References Nacho Libre
Jack Black Gets To Wrestle Again
As if theNapoleon Dynamitereferences were not enough,A Minecraft Movieeven includes a nod to Jared Hess and Jack Black’s prior collaboration inNacho Libre. The now-famouschicken jockey scene inA Minecraft Moviecomes as Garrett and Steve are put in a wrestling ring to fight the animal and its baby zombie companion. While Steve is tied up for a large portion of the fight,Jack Black’s character gets involved in the fight brieflyafter breaking free.
This allows Jack Black to return to his wrestling roots fromNacho Libre. He’s not masked up like Nacho, nor does he do one of Nacho’s signature moves. But, the decision to put Jack Black back in a wrestling ring had to be intentional I believe. It becomes another subtle way forA Minecraft Movieto reference Jared Hess' first two feature films that helped launch a career that eventually led him to the Overworld.
