During the SXSW Film Festival, the intros for “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” stressed that the film was “created this movie for everyone.” There’s obviously a worry that the movie won’t appeal to anyone who hasn’t already seen it, let alone those who aren’t already familiar with the massively popular role-playing game. Because branding has potential benefits and drawbacks, more research is necessary. One positive aspect is that it can appeal to a wide audience who are already familiar with the Property. Yet, a film needs to be exceptional for it to attract viewers who aren’t already familiar with the source material, as seen by the success of “The Last of Us” among moviegoers who have never played the game. The question now is how Dungeons & Dragons devotees will react to the high price tag attached to their beloved role-playing game. Paramount is betting the farm on a 20-sided dice, but the mercurial Dungeon Master of Hollywood may have a deadly surprise up his sleeve. It’
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s no secret that Dungeons & Dragons is at its finest when it’s being utterly absurd and outrageous. Writers/directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, along with co-writer Michael Gilio, attempt to mimic the game’s “we need a plan” framework in a narrative that, at times, sounds like it’s just making stuff up. Or acting like you’re doing it. Even while this is a bold way to approach a fantasy picture, it may result in some strangely disappointing passages by doing away with stakes and pushing the film to be humorous. So much of “Honor Among Thieves” unfolds with a wink and a nod instead of being really rough around the edges, in the moment, and new, and this is nearly hard to manufacture. A terrific sequence with the talking dead is only one example of how “Honor Among Thieves” channels the whimsical pandemonium of Sam Raimi’s “Army of Darkness,” while the film’s overall “ragtag squad of saviours” vibe is reminiscent of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Yet, there are several moments in the film where it seems like the filmmakers are trying to fake what they love about the game rather than accurately adapt it.
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Chris Pine, as always, steals the show as ex-Harpers member Edgin Darvis. Edgin’s wife is murdered by the Red Wizards, so he plans a robbery to steal a relic that would bring her back to life. However, he is deceived and ends up in prison with his stoic barbarian best friend Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez). In a deft sequence, they get away and learn that Forge Fitzwilliam, once a member of their team, has kidnapped and lied to Edgin’s daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) (Hugh Grant). The traitor collaborated with a violent Red Wizard named Sofina, who betrayed Edgin and the crew in several ways (Daisy Head). In this Dungeons & Dragons adventure, Edgin and Holga are tasked with saving Kira, exacting revenge on Forge, defeating the Red Wizards, and perhaps even finding some riches. An insecure wizard named Simon (Justice Smith), a shapeshifting druid named Doric (Sophia Lillis), and a likeable paladin named Xenk (Regé-Jean Page) will all be joining them on their expedition.
Like with any “team of heroes” picture, the protagonists all have unique abilities that will come in handy, and the plot is full of unexpected challenges that the heroes must conquer in order to succeed, such as a brilliant scenario involving some undead foes and a fat dragon in a dungeon. It’s fair to say that this is more of a “fantasy gamers” thing than an “everyone” thing. There are a lot of Easter eggs and allusions to Dungeons & Dragons throughout the film (the mention of “Baldur’s Gate” and “Neverwinter” elicited loud reactions at the screening), but I wouldn’t claim that the movie is inaccessible to those who have never created a character for a D&D game. References to things like “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Witcher” may sound more substantial to non-gamers than they actually are. It’s full of fantastical words, as though the filmmakers fondly recalled their childhood days of making up stories and playing with make-believe in their mother’s basement. Some fans could be satisfied by simply sharing their enthusiasm for D&D’s rich history. Now, what about the rest of the world?
The filmmakers clearly cared about the original material, but their lacklustre craft shows in the film.
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While the action sequences in “Honor Among Thieves” rely on physical effects (or at least ones that appear practical—everything is CGI nowadays), the film succeeds because it provides a tactile feel that is missing from the CGI-heavy ones. The picture is at its most realistic when Edgin and his colleagues are reviving corpses for information or when Sofina is just scowling in her malicious makeup, and least believable when its protagonists are randomly performing spells. Even though the movie’s design calls for extensive world-building, it falls short in this regard. Forge’s city is reminiscent of a typical fantasy computer game, and the chance to create engaging settings for these unique individuals is rarely taken. This film appears to be one that will not hold up well aesthetically over time. There are a lot of good actors here, and I really like how Pine plays up the rugged charm that I’ve always felt would have made him a huge star in the ’60s. All of the actors were cast because of what they do best, with Grant doubling down on his smarm and Rodriguez delivering some serious kicks when necessary.
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Smith, a relative rookie, finds a surprising vulnerability, and Lillis, who is also a relative newbie, is consistently engaging as she tentatively assumes the role of hero, who are both successful. Despite its bloated 139-minute running length, the most astonishing thing about “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is how little flesh there is on these reanimated bones. Constant motion leaves little room for anything else when a cast of characters constantly switches between two alternate plotlines. For the most part, this movie is about the question, “What do we do now?” Again, that’s more enjoyable with companions than when the outcome is out of your hands. The 2023 South by Southwest Film Festival was the setting for this review. Honour Among Thieves, a Dungeons & Dragons film, premieres on March 31.