Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – Rolled at least an 18
Directed by Jonathon Goldstein and John Francis Daley
Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Chloe Coleman, Hugh Grant
7/10
Gary Gygax’s fantasy tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons enjoyed popularity being played in basements in the 70s and 80s and survived the Satanic Panic, a mediocre film in 2000, and even worse straight-to-video films in 2005 and 2012. But it was only a matter of time before Dungeons & Dragons (known to players as D&D) was due for another cinematic outing, and thanks to the right directors, writers, and cast, this time we have a film worthy of the brand.
Prisoners and old friends Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) break out of their snowbound prison to retrieve Edgin’s daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman), from former ally, Forge (Hugh Grant), who is now Lord presiding over the city of Neverwinter. To emancipate Kira, the heroes need to pull together a team to pull off a series of heists and overcome powerful Red Wizards who seek to amass an army of undead on Neverwinter. It’s bizarre stuff to try and explain in one hit, but directors Jonathon Goldstein and John Francis Daley are clearly familiar and fond of the beloved game and managed to pull off a film which is accessible and fun for those who have never rolled a d20.
Key to that success is the writing of potent, endearing, and diverse characters in the adventuring party, and finding the right charismatic cast to pull it off. For this reason, Honor Among Thieves resembles Guardians of the Galaxy more than it does its own embarrassing cinematic ancestry. These characters are distinct, fun, and produce interesting friction when placed together in the film’s rolling series of fantasy heist scenarios, most of which play out as if the writers were rolling dice to determine the outcomes. Despite the success in carrying out their plan, the characters are subject to hiccups, all of which generate fun, exciting, and intelligent endeavours to think their way out of trouble again. It tills fertile ground for exhilarating moments, and it’s an effective way of balancing a film which needs to please hardcore fans and casual viewers.
The world of the film is a wonderful and broad medieval fantasy realm, populated by a diverse mix of peoples held together with the verisimilitude of mostly grounded realism. The film wisely avoids the reverent solemnity of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and opts for an atmosphere of fun which feels closer to Star Wars in tone. It’s an atmosphere which is malleable and forgiving, where things like shiny over-the-top armour, bizarre creatures, and hilarious magical misfires all justifiably exist in the one place, which seems to be the biggest hurdle in successfully realising a world of fantasy in film and television.
The cast are all miraculously on the same page, and we get some memorable performances from Hugh Grant’s con-man, Chris Pine’s plucky bard, and Michelle Rodriguez is both intimidating and vulnerable as a warrior woman who seems to have a thing for halflings. This film should be remembered fondly within the fandom and succeeds in capturing the feel of playing the game – it’s a lovingly made fun time. For the D&D fan who may still be sitting on the fence, it’s worth getting your party together and giving it your time.
JOHN HOLDCROFT