It sounds like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a surprisingly enjoyable movie that manages to overcome the challenges of adapting a niche board game into a big budget blockbuster. The story is whimsical and complex, but still a lot of fun, and the emotional anchor of the father-daughter relationship between Pine's character and his daughter provides an additional layer of depth. The action sequences are fantastic, and the visuals do a great job of immersing viewers in the rich world of the IP. The ensemble cast is also amazing, with great performances from Pine, Grant, Smith, Lillis, Rodriguez, and Jean-Page. Overall, it sounds like a great movie for fans of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise and those looking for a fun time at the movies.
The film follows a band of adventurers who go on a quest to retrieve a lost relic that could reunite one of their families. As one would expect from a “Dungeons & Dragons” movie, the story is whimsical, complex, and often a bit random. It’s undeniably hard-to-follow, but it’s still a ton of fun.
Arguably even more impressive is the fact that the film manages to be one of the most emotionally resonant blockbusters in recent memory. The writers made the wise decision of anchoring the movie with the father-daughter relationship between Pine’s character and his daughter. Even though it’s mildly conventional, it works extremely well. There is also the benefit of the group dynamic that provides an additional layer of emotion.
The action sequences Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves are also genuinely fantastic. It should be no surprise, because the Fabergé egg scene in Game Night was among the best in the film, but there is so much kineticism to the direction that it’s a ton of fun. There are at least three to four action sequences that are downright fantastic.
Also surprising is the fact that the visuals are quite good. The production design, practical effects, and CGI do a great job of immersing viewers in the surreal and rich world of the IP. While many of the references may be lost on novices, Daley and Goldstein do a good enough job with the world-building that it is very enjoyable nonetheless.
The movie also benefits from a pretty amazing ensemble. Everyone feels like they are having the time of their lives in their roles, and it’s infectious. It’s one of the best performances in Pine’s career, as it takes advantage of his natural charisma and comedy. But everyone in the cast is great, including Hugh Grant, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Michelle Rodriguez, and a scene-stealing turn from Regé Jean-Page.
Arguably even more impressive is the fact that the film manages to be one of the most emotionally resonant blockbusters in recent memory. The writers made the wise decision of anchoring the movie with the father-daughter relationship between Pine’s character and his daughter. Even though it’s mildly conventional, it works extremely well. There is also the benefit of the group dynamic that provides an additional layer of emotion.
The action sequences Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves are also genuinely fantastic. It should be no surprise, because the Fabergé egg scene in Game Night was among the best in the film, but there is so much kineticism to the direction that it’s a ton of fun. There are at least three to four action sequences that are downright fantastic.
Also surprising is the fact that the visuals are quite good. The production design, practical effects, and CGI do a great job of immersing viewers in the surreal and rich world of the IP. While many of the references may be lost on novices, Daley and Goldstein do a good enough job with the world-building that it is very enjoyable nonetheless.
The movie also benefits from a pretty amazing ensemble. Everyone feels like they are having the time of their lives in their roles, and it’s infectious. It’s one of the best performances in Pine’s career, as it takes advantage of his natural charisma and comedy. But everyone in the cast is great, including Hugh Grant, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Michelle Rodriguez, and a scene-stealing turn from Regé Jean-Page.
Rating: 8/10
