‘A Minecraft Movie’ Stars Unpack Songs, ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ References

“A Minecraft Movie” and “Napoleon Dynamite” don’t sound too similar on paper. After all, what could a blockbuster video game adaptation starring Jason Momoa have in common with a 2004 indie comedy?

As it turns out, quite a bit. With llamas, tater tots, and Idaho setting and a washed-up high school legend at its heart, “A Minecraft Movie” draws on much of director Jared Hess’ humor from his feature debut two decades ago.

Hess says the callbacks to the cult classic weren’t necessarily intentional – it’s just who he is, inspired by his own upbringing in Idaho. “It’s all very personal,” he tells Variety. “It was kind of a convergence of so many things. Llamas are such funny, weird, characters in the game. My mom’s llama was in ‘Napoleon Dynamite!’”

Jesse Ehrman, president of Warner Bros Pictures, told Variety last month that Hess’ unique point of view was what finally got the long-gestating film into theaters. “Think about somebody who can be funny for young people, but also sophisticated enough for an adult audience. Jared is on a really short list. When you think about ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ that felt cool and edgy and hysterical, but it was still a PG movie.”

Although, Hess says Jennifer Coolidge’s hysterical take on a lovesick vice principal who falls for a lost villager could have taken the film in a much raunchier direction. “We could have made a whole other movie with the outtakes of her and the villager on the date. It may have been a rated-R film, but we kept the PG stuff,” he says with a laugh. “Jennifer is just a comedy goddess. And anytime that she’s on screen, she’s so stinking funny.”

She’s in good company, flanked by Momoa and Jack Black, who bring their own unique brands of off-the-wall comedy to the film.

Momoa says the inspiration for his character, Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, was inspired by the people he looked up to as a kid. “The first person I learned Metallica from was the coolest older brother of a friend of a friend. You walk into the room, and he’s got the Nintendos and all that shit. He’s got all these things that my mom won’t let me do! She makes me climb trees and play in the fucking street. I want to do all these cool things,” he says. “It’s a bunch of different people in my life that I kind of amalgamated.”

Despite the Metallica inspiration, it’s actually Black who does most of the singing in the film, from a memorable snack-inspired jingle “Steve’s Lava Chicken” to the heartfelt “Ode to Dennis.” The songs will hopefully hold over fans of Black’s real-life comedy rock band, Tenacious D, which Black says will return – just not now. “There will be no Tenacious D wine until it’s D-time. You can’t rush that kind of thing. It’s got to be organic, and it’s just not time. Not yet.”

Black’s co-star Danielle Brooks, a powerhouse Tony-nominated performer, doesn’t get the chance to show off her own musical talents in the film – a decision she jokes she’s still questioning. “I’m trying to figure it out myself, honey! Maybe in ‘A Minecraft Movie 2.’ Maybe there’s some duets that can happen,” she says, laying on the sarcasm as she adds, “I really think it’s because they know when they have a Grammy winner in their midst, I would have stolen the show. So they decided to just let Jack Black take the lead and help his confidence.”