Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
★★★★★
Mild Spoilers
Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley
Written by Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley and Michael Gilio
Story by Chris McKay and Michael Gilio
Set in an alternate medieval fantasy world, thief Edgin (Chris Pine) and a ragtag team of wizards, warriors and more must embark on a quest to save the city of Neverwinter from being usurped by the nefarious Red Wizards, and rescue Edgin’s daughter Kira from the clutches of the Lord of Neverwinter (Hugh Grant).
The synopsis above doesn’t really do the film justice, because the movie is a lot more fun than it sounds. It takes its inspiration from movies like The Princess Bride, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and even Army of Darkness. You can say it’s a silly, low-brow action comedy, a parody even, but with a bit of class and wit. I’m not sure if the movie has satisfied the expectations of D&D fans, but for me this is a welcomed return to the kind of comedy that I thought Hollywood has forgotten how to make. Some of its highlights include the graveyard scene, certain magical spells and artifacts, a guy named Jonathan, and I kid you not, Regé-Jean Page. Yes, the dude from Bridgerton and The Grey Man was FUNNY. There are even unexpected cameos and funny Easter eggs from the game and other reiterations.
But what impressed me more was how it also did the other stuff just as well. Firstly, every one of the main cast of characters are likeable. Each has his or her own story arc, cool skillsets and relatability, and brought to life perfectly by the actors playing them, which includes Pine, Michelle Rodriguez (from the Fast & Furious movies), Justice Smith (Detective Pikachu, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), and Sophia Lillis (It: Chapter One and Two). There are even some genuinely touching moments that are testaments to how well-realised these characters are. The action sequences were surprisingly well-choreographed, from the hand-to-hand combat to the magical melees. Hugh Grant was effortlessly great as the awkwardly charming villain.
Honestly, for an obviously commercialized endeavour to promote the Dungeons & Dragons brand, it delivered a lot more than it ever needed to on a creative level. It could have been the Top Gun: Maverick of 2023 because of how similarly well-put-together it was, if only it did just as well box-office wise. Don’t let these detract you from watching the movie, though. If you enjoyed movies like The Princess Bride, you’re going to love this one, I guarantee it.