Jared Hess's indie sensibilities help to elevate a video game adaptation that is boosted further by Jack Black's irrepressible star turn. The special effects could be better, as could the female roles. But this remains an entertaining fantasy adventure that makes light work of what might appear to be unpromising source material.

The studio releasing A Minecraft Movie decided to screen for critics on a Sunday morning only. You might think, “Who cares? You are seeing a movie for free; some of us actually