Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Dungeons & Dragons, the popular role-playing game, has been a source of inspiration for many movies and TV shows. However, few have managed to capture the essence of the game and recreate the fun that players experience around a table. The 2000 Dungeons & Dragons movie was a failure, but in 2023, writer-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley try to make things right with their new adaptation, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The movie manages to capture the spirit of the game by creating a chaotic and hilarious adventure full of quirky characters and imaginative creatures.

The movie follows the adventures of a group of misfits who band together to retrieve a mysterious treasure that will reunite bard Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine) with his estranged daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) and his deceased wife. The group includes Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), a barbarian; Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), a wild magic sorcerer; and Doric (Sophia Lillis), a tiefling druid. Their quest brings them up against former ally Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), a professional conman, and the nefarious Red Wizard Sofina (Daisy Head), while also crossing paths with the overtly heroic yet mysterious paladin Xenk Yendar (Regé-Jean Page).

The biggest selling point of the movie is its humor. The screenplay, co-written by Michael Gilio, bursts at the seams with lively humor. The abundance of quips is a double-edged sword, as some work well, while others fall flat. There are moments when a character will give an unnecessary comment on the ridiculousness of a situation, deflating the tension. However, when the film plays into the frenetic attempts by the protagonists to brute force their way through difficult obstacles, it's dynamite. The movie perfectly mirrors the table-top RPG's appeal.

An area where viewers may get lost is in the heavy usage of Dungeons & Dragons mythology that mainly comes across as white noise, if not for the game cast. The cast is excellent, with Chris Pine's charm and Michelle Rodriguez's badassery stealing the show. Justice Smith's insecure sorcerer Simon is a hoot, and Sophia Lillis's quirky shapeshifter threatens to steal the whole picture. Hugh Grant is smarmy, Daisy Head is terrifying, and Regé-Jean Page is bizarre in all the right ways, doing his best NPC (Non-Player Character).

The direction is another strong point of the movie. A modern IP-based blockbuster having action sequences this well-choreographed is simply a gift. A deliberately staged brawl between Michelle Rodriguez and a group of guards towards the beginning is merely the appetizer. Moreover, a one-take tracking shot following a daring escape by Daric transforming into all manner of creatures – including the fan-favorite Owlbear – is a total showstopper. The pacing and baffling 134-minute runtime can drag, but there's always another rousing set piece around the corner.

The movie has an abundance of imagination. Despite the party being mostly made up of humans, there's no shortage of creatures to gawk at. Anthropomorphic hawk people, lizards, "mimic" creatures that impersonate inanimate objects, panther-like displacer beasts that can project a copy of themselves, and even a chubby dragon whose fire breath is reduced to a pathetic sparking cough, are eye candy to look at. Sweeping vistas and various novel uses of magic make sure there's always something interesting in the frame as well.

Admittedly, the quality of the visual effects does not always match up to the ambition on display in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

...and puppetry are used to great effect, giving the creatures a tangible presence that adds to the film's charm.

Overall, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a solid adaptation of the beloved tabletop game. While the screenplay may not be perfect and some of the references to the game's mythology may be lost on viewers unfamiliar with the source material, the film's enthusiastic cast, lively humor, and thrilling action sequences make it an enjoyable ride for fans and newcomers alike. Director duo Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley do an excellent job bringing the fantastical world of Dungeons & Dragons to life on the big screen, and the practical effects and creature design are impressive. If you're looking for a fun, action-packed adventure with a touch of nostalgia, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is definitely worth checking out.

In conclusion, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves succeeds in bringing the magic of the beloved tabletop game to the big screen. It may not be a perfect film, but its humor, action, and imaginative world-building make for an enjoyable viewing experience. Fans of the game will appreciate the references to its mythology, while newcomers will be drawn in by the charming cast and thrilling set pieces. If you're looking for a fun, nostalgia-filled adventure, give this film a chance. You might just find yourself ready to roll some dice and embark on your own epic quest.

3.5/5

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves hits theaters from March 31!