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Calling all adventurers, sorcerers, warriors, and even fans of fantasy! Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves broken into theaters for our enjoyment, even if you’ve never played the popular tabletop game before. The film follows Edgin, a thieving bard played by Chris Pine who leads a band of misfits on a journey to rescue his daughter. The film also stars Michelle Rodriguez as Holga the Barbarian, Justice Smith as Simon the Sorcerer, Sophia Lillis as Doric the Druid, Regé-Jean Page as Xenk the Paladin, Hugh Grant as Forge the Rogue, and Daisy Head as Sofina the Red Wizard.
And do not fret! What follows from here on out will be a spoiler-free review.
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As one would guess, the film takes on a very similar format to the original Dungeons and Dragons game. This comes in the form of including various character classes such as Bards and Druids, but also with the style of storytelling and “planning” that goes on throughout the story. While the ending is predictable, it’s the journey that takes on the most value as it can be as unpredictable as a creative tabletop game can be. At times, the story can feel disconnected or perhaps lacking which can lose its audience, even if it is the intent of its storytelling format. In that case, it only takes a tiny bit of effort to piece things together and stick to the film but it’s always worth it. Amidst the comedic aspect of this wild tale, there is just the right amount of heart put into it that allows us to connect with the characters. Whether it be our minds that are full of doubt or our broken hearts over those we’ve lost due to distance, every character has their own struggle that is woven into the main story, no matter how small it may be.
I think the best part of this film is that you really don’t need to know a thing about Dungeons and Dragons itself. The film manages to dive deep into the purpose of its story fairly quickly while also introducing the characters and the world to its audience, whether they’re newcomers or veterans. For fans of the game itself or games similar to it, there’s plenty of references and easter eggs to enjoy and appreciate. And for those walking into this movie without any clue about what to expect, this movie basically says “No problem.” To be honest, you could easily enjoy this movie by simply looking at it like any other fantasy adventure story, and an especially fantastic one at that.
The script is ridiculous, and full of quips, references, and humor that unfold in what would normally be much more serious circumstances. And the performances from the entire cast simply showcase how perfect the casting decisions were, as each manages to lose themselves in the enjoyment of portraying each character. Whether it’s the dry yet confident personality of our Paladin or the uncertain mentality of our Sorcerer, each character has their strengths and weaknesses that balance each other out overall.
There’s certainly something to be said about fantasy stories in recent media that oftentimes don’t feel as universal or fresh and full of creativity. Dungeons and Dragons does in fact feel like both of those and finds a way to connect with the viewer through the use of comedy and well-written characters that help relay a fun adventure and meaningful story. If you genuinely love all things fantasy or are craving something new and enticing, it’s worth a watch. After all, who can resist a hearty and hilarious adventure with Chris Pine and his crew?
Samosa Rating:
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves receives 4.5 out of 5 Samosas.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is now playing in theaters.
Runtime: 2h 14m