Converting much loved games into successful movies has always been a notoriously difficult task, and with three uninspiring previous entries in the D&D cannon, hopes weren’t particularly high for this latest adaptation.
With a much bigger budget this time, Co- directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein assemble a star-studded cast, featuring Chris Pine, Hugh Grant and Michelle Rodriguez.
Pine is Edgin, a charming rogue, who after a spell in prison, teams up with his old cell mate Holga (Rodriguez) for an epic quest to retrieve a lost treasure. Recruiting Sophia Lillis’s shape shifting druid Doric and Justice Smith’s hapless sorcerer Simon, the band of misfits go in search of the ancient relic.
Along the way Edgin looks to reconnect with his daughter (Chloe Coleman) who’s been brainwashed against him by his former friend Forge (Grant).
Throw in an undead wizard with a nefarious plan and the plot begins to get pretty convoluted, but the duo behind the film keep things light and lively and don’t get too bogged down in the machinations of the story. After breaking through with 2015’s National Lampoon’s Vacation reboot and 2018’s action-comedy Game Night, writing directing pair Daly and Goldstein cleverly integrate humour into the dense mythology of D&D and deliver a film littered with laugh out loud moments.
The tone is perfectly judged, never mocking its source material or descending into spoof, instead leaning into the pure fantasy and celebrating the magic and monsters that makes the game so much fun.
Pine’s easy charm is ideally suited to the material and makes him perfect for the lead role, while Grant hams it up for all he’s worth as the treacherous Forge, seemingly relishing the chance to go full pantomime villain. Regé-Jean Page’s stoic delivery as holy crusader Xenk Yendar also works really well in his relatively short screen time, his effortless heroics aiding the band of misfits when they need it most. Importantly for a blockbuster like this, the film also has an emotional core and real heart to it.
The characters are well rounded and likeable giving the audience real reason to care about their fate.
As a film, Dungeons & Dragons doesn’t break any particularly new ground, but it is a really well handled fantasy adventure that delivers a ton of fun along with its thrills.
Full of knowing nods for the hardcore set, D&D: Honour Among Thieves is a lovely tribute to an RPG classic.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Paul Steward
@grittster
2/04/23