‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves’ Review #2
Stars: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head, Jason Wong | Written by Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Michael Gilio | Directed by Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
I have never played a single minute of the famous Dungeons and Dragons game, but if the experience is anything like the one you get from this film, then sign me up. Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves conjures up all the energy and fun of a 90s swashbuckling adventure and throws it deep into the depths of fantasy, creating something fun and exciting for a new generation.
From the writers and directors of Game Night, the 2018 comedy starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams (the film that made all other studio comedies look like they were falling behind), have done the same with the action-adventure film. Studios can once again look at these two filmmakers and hold their heads in shame as nothing in recent years has been as fun as this.
What feels like a by-the-numbers fantasy plot gets hit with the magic Marvel once had, the magic they had when they made the first Guardians of the Galaxy film; in fact, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves feels like the fantasy version of the 2014 Marvel hit. It’s the magic many major studios seem to have lost in the last few years, pumping out by the number comedies, action-adventure movies, and fantasy films. What Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves does is remind us how joyous these films can be when everyone is having fun and working with the creative freedom and spirit to deliver something that’s made for audiences to laugh and cheer together. I can’t remember the last time a film like this made me laugh as much, every joke is set up and well paid off, they do of course have some predictably in them, but the jokes the film lands can be found in any great adventure romp from 20 years ago. Think of the jokes and laughs from The Mummy (1999), The Mask of Zorro (1998), or A Knight’s Tale (2001), these are the fun adventure romps my generation fell in love with. Films that made us laugh and made us care for the characters, reminding me so much of those great times. It gives an old feeling, a sense of familiarity, of finding this on VHS at your local blockbuster and renting it with the family, only for it to become one of your childhood favourites. I have no idea how kids today discover these great moments but hopefully they’ll be able to catch this in their local cinema and discover something they’ll love for years to come.
It’s the action, adventure and comedy that work so well and everyone involved executes it perfectly. Chris Pine has always been a great leading man and his charm and comedic timing here are as good as he’s ever been. The role perfectly ties in with all of Chris Pine’s best traits we’ve seen over the years, it takes everything we’ve come to love from him and expect of him and ties them up in one great character. The same can be said of Michelle Rodriguez, whose tough character fits so well with everything we’ve come to love from the actress. Michelle and Chris are a great duo to lead us through the film’s story and their great chemistry makes from a new duo to love for what we can hope will be many more instalments. The rest of the cast are all perfectly played too and soon start feeling like a true adventure family that you connect with and route for. Another highlight in the cast is Hugh Grant, who over the last few years has really looked like he’s having the most fun playing the most eccentric characters, characters that allow him to chew up all the scenery he’s allowed, and here he’s allowed to chew on a lot. It does feel like he’s once again embodying the same character he so brilliantly embodied in Paddington 2, but we can’t complain about that, as his Paddington 2 character (Phoenix Buchanan) is one of the best we’ve seen in recent years. Getting to watch him embrace just some of that mischief and once again find himself as another rapscallion was great to watch and placed him brilliantly opposite our heroes.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is one of the best and biggest surprises I’ve had in years. After leaving the theatre it made me immediately start thinking about all the adventures I loved as a kid and truly made me believe if this had come out when I was ten, it would no doubt be a favourite. Even now, at an older age, it remains a grand old time that I hope we get to go back to with a sequel. It reminds me studio films can be fun and have the heart all movies deserve.
***** 5/5
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is in UK cinemas now.
