Have John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein done the unthinkable and made a good Dungeons & Dragons movie? What do you think?
Directors: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Starring: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page
Running time: 134 minutes
Dungeons & Dragons is the global sensation that has captured generations of cosplayers since it was released in 1974, it’s the game that brought together the Stranger Things gang and, let’s face it, it’s the epitome of nerddom. So, is Honour Among Thieves, the big-screen adaptation from filmmaking duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, only enjoyable for fans of the roleplaying phenomenon? Not at all - this is a fresh, fun and out-and-out entertaining blockbuster that anyone can enjoy. It just happens to nail the nerdy side of things, too.
Following Chris Pine’s bard-thief Edgin and his band of misfits - which includes the loveable barbarian, Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), the aspiring sorcerer, Simon (Justice Smith), and the tiefling druid hell-bent on revenge, Doric (Sophia Lillis) - as they attempt to pull off a heist that could change their lives forever, this is a lovingly-crafted, well-researched ode to creativity and imagination that spans from snowy wastelands to choppy seas. And it is, in the worlds of an owlbear, a right hoot.
That said, let’s get the hot take out of the way first: there are better Edgins out there than Chris Pine. The A-lister is no doubt charming and can play comedy well enough, but from the first scene, it’s easy to imagine a whole host of actors who could have elevated this character to higher heights. Glenn Howerton. Andy Samberg. Hell, to go fully on-the-nose, The Witcher’s Joey Batey. All of these would have likely hit the beats of humour with greater ferocity than Pine does here.
For all the chaos, all the witches, mimics and, yes, dungeons and dragons, Honour Among Thieves never loses its focus on its heart
This is not to say the 42-year-old is necessarily bad for the role - his confidence and assuredness grows as the runtime progresses - he’s just a less perfect fit for his character than most cast members are for theirs. Rodriguez is a stand-out, for example, smashing the beautifully unsubtle bluntness that any fan of D&D will have come across when facing - or playing - a barbarian. Yet, beneath it all, she delivers the emotion that the script asks her to, too. Regé-Jean Page is memorable in his slightly limited role, relishing the dead-pan nature of his righteous paladin, Xenk. And Hugh Grant is a delightfully mischievous villain, clearly embracing the absurdity of his morally-bankrupt conman.
The real stars of the show, however, are undoubtedly the team behind the camera. In the hands of many other filmmakers, a movie based on this premise, set in this franchise, and taking such big world-building swings, could easily have fallen flat (see 2000’s Dungeons & Dragons). Yet the writer-director duo of Daley and Goldstein, alongside co-writer Michael Gilio, just get what this whole thing is about. Bringing the originality, quick wit and meticulous character-crafting that made Game Night such a hit, and then ramping them up tenfold, this is blockbuster filmmaking with artistic sensibilities.
For all the chaos, all the witches, mimics and, yes, dungeons and dragons, Honour Among Thieves never loses its focus on its heart and, most importantly, its purpose - to tell a tale of a broken man trying to piece his family back together. To achieve this in a world of magic and monsters is no mean feat.
Boasting pulse-racing choreography, a loveable group of characters, and a script that’s razor-sharp, whether you’re into nerdy stuff or not, this is well worth a watch
Snuffiness aside, though, this is still a proper blockbuster - and the action here feels inventive and original, acting as a reminder that CGI-heavy productions can still be creative. The aforementioned magic and monsters are used sparingly, but effectively, channelling the scale and spectacle of a Lord of the Rings, but coughing up new ideas and set pieces in the process. And the more stripped-back, close quarters action is genuinely jaw-dropping at times. Whenever Rodriguez’s Holga suits up, you know you’re in for a great time - and extended, intelligent fight sequences are bound to follow. The Johns are constantly shifting the camera, regularly taking risks and consistently attempting to immerse the audience in this unique universe, and it’s a thrill from start to finish. They showed glimpses of their action prowess in Game Night, with one particular heist sequence hinting that they had it in their locker, but they’ve proven themselves as masters of the craft here.
Boasting pulse-racing choreography, a loveable group of characters, and a script that’s razor-sharp, whether you’re into nerdy stuff or not, this is well worth a watch. It takes a little while to find its feet, and it’s not entirely flawless, but it is an absolute blast. Roll the dice and check it out for yourself right away.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is now showing at The Arc Cinema
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