Comedy rules the land as a ragtag group of misfits goes on a quest for booty and a resurrection tablet in “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” based on the role-playing tabletop game. Sure, there are loads of references to D&D which has made its way to shows that include “Stranger Things,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and of course “Dexter’s Laboratory,” but you don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy this film. A very funny Chris Pine leads the cast that includes the always tough Michelle Rodriguez, while Hugh Grant gets to ham it up once again as the villain. From the screwball comedy to the solid CGI effects, it’s loads of fun. Think Hasbro meets Monty Python with a touch of “The Princess Bride” thrown in for good measure.
If you’re a fan of Marvel films but don’t know the difference between Vibranium and Pym particles, “Honor Among Thieves” is right up your alley. You’re not sitting in that comfortable recliner munching on popcorn to see if directors Jonathan M. Goldstein and John Francis Daley managed to accurately represent the D&D game, you’re here for a good time. You want adventure, comedy, romance, and… adventure! You get 134 minutes of all that and while that might seem a tad long, you know what they say, “time flies when you’re having fun.”
Chris Pine plays Edgin, a former member of The Harpers, a secret organization tasked with keeping the world in check. He quit the honorable group after his wife was killed by a Red Wizard (nasty demonologists with powerful magic), their blades prevent resurrection. Edgin is to blame for her death after stealing from the nefarious cult. He spends most of his time now playing the lute (which serves as a makeshift weapon), being charming, and making plans while trying to rescue his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman), who is being held by Forge (Hugh Grant), a rouge villain and former member of Edgin’s crew who turned Kira against her father while he was in prison. He now serves as the Lord of Neverwinter.
Playing a badass once again, Michelle Rodriguez is cast as Holga the barbarian, Edgin’s partner in crime. Like her character Letty in the F&F franchise, Holga is a caring surrogate mom who values the importance of family. She’s the group’s strength (gaining 10lbs of muscle for the role), I’m guessing part of her power comes from that nice mullet, who was once married to a Halfing (think tiny people), her ex-husband is played by a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, a fun cameo by the actor last seen performing magic in “Nightmare Alley.”
Edgin comes up with a plan (because that’s what he does) to rescue his daughter, resurrect his dead wife, and get rich but realizes he and Holga may need help. He recruits an old friend, Simon (Justice Smith), an amateur sorcerer with no self-confidence, and a shape-shifting druid named Doric played by “It” actress Sophia Lillis whose low-key and charming performance makes her the film’s VIP.
As the ragtag foursome head towards Forge’s castle where the previously banned HighSun games are about to take place (a Hunger Games-style competition), they pick up a few nifty artifacts along the way including the Helmet of Disjunction after raiding a cemetery filled with Holga’s dead relatives. In one of the film’s funniest moments, they temporarily bring rotting corpses back to life to answer five questions before returning to their eternal sleep. Chris Pine’s Edgin wasting the questions is very amusing to watch, the whole gag plays like a Monty Python sketch.
Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton) appears as Xenk Yendar, a no-nonsense paladin who helps the foursome on their quest. The chivalrous and brave knight in shining armor elicits “The Princess Bride” vibes as the heroic character gets funnier while avoiding being funny.
Once they reach Forge’s castle the group must contend with Sofina (Daisy Head), a powerful Red Wizard serving under Forge. There is a fun scene where our heroes are thrust into the maze-like HighSun games.
As I exited the screening, I heard two D&D gamers (around my age, so no spring chickens) mention that the film was not what they expected. But they still seemed to enjoy the movie. Writers Jonathan M. Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Michael Gilio, and Chris McKay have created a rollicking adventure with loads of laughs within the D&D universe. There are enough references and easter eggs to please fans of the game but for everyone else, it’s just cool-sounding mumbo jumbo to intake between laughs and thrills.
I still don’t know what the heck “Its quantum entanglement between the quantum states of Posner molecules in your brains” means, but when Laurence Fishburne recites that line in “Ant-Man And The Wasp” I’m thinking “Right on.” Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with the game. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is great fun for the whole family. Like a page out of the Steven Spielberg playbook, it’s why we go to the movies.
(3 ½ stars)
Now showing in theatres
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