I believe this movie holds the title of being the first 2023 film where most of the audience went: “Holy shit, that’s actually better than we expected!” Because I still remember the trailers for it, and they didn’t inspire confidence. They were not bad, but for a movie about the most famous role-playing game, they seemed to be all over the place tonally. It seemed like it would be one of those “How did this get made?” Hollywood cautionary tales of spending too much money and not understanding the material. Well, how wrong we all were.
A huge disclaimer before proceeding – I have never played any Dungeons & Dragons. I am not into these games; I understand what they are, but they are just not my thing. So, my perspective will be focused solely on this movie and what I heard from people who are fans of these games.
I think the biggest reason, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves succeeded was it never took itself too seriously, but the fans/game was never the butt of any jokes. Also, when I talk about success, I mean at least audience-wise, it seems the movie was a box office flop, earning just over $200 million on a budget of $150 million (that must have hurt). It seems like John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein cracked the formula where they understood how to make jokes from this fantasy world without taking cheap shots at it or at its audience. There is nothing worse than seeing a game adaptation that doesn’t respect the source material or makes a few cheap jokes about its audience, but this movie seemed to be made by people who have affection for the game.
Again, I have never played a single minute of this game. But I understand there are many easter eggs for the most hardcore players. And here’s the thing, I never got lost or thought: “Oh well, this joke probably works for people who have played the game before.” No, everything was explained in the movie, so I could easily follow this story. From a few things I read about this movie after I watched it, many easter eggs are either in the background or used in dialogue, but are not “vital” parts of the story, meaning you can watch this film and understand what’s happening and your friend who’s played this many times is happier than a sailor in a whorehouse because they mentioned this item from the game or this place.
Another (as vital as not mocking the fans or the source material in my eyes) reason I enjoyed this movie was the fact they grounded this fantasy world. Because at the core, surrounded by all this magic, fantasy and adventure, lies a pretty simple story about a dad trying to make amends and get his daughter back. You need something that’s easy to relate to, something “simple” that grounds your fantasy, and this was a great decision. If they went on a quest for the Master Key of Shablong that opens the gates to Frubing land to get the Axe of Winterland, that would seem more generic, and I could see myself losing interest because I wouldn’t be as familiar with any of these. But when you ground your story with some simple yet effective family stuff, it usually works, as long as you have great actors to sell it.
And boy, did they win a jackpot there. Chris Pine continues his quest to be “the best Chris”, and his charisma, charm, and talent shine through this film. He’s effortlessly funny but delivers in many other dramatic scenes and was the perfect cast for this role. I also liked Justice Smith and his dynamic with Sophia Lillis, even though I am not sold about them being a couple. I think the movie suggests that they might hook up at the end, but for me, they worked almost better as this brother/sister duo. Michelle Rodriguez continues her role of “strong woman”, and she is the strongest and most useful out of all our protagonists, at least regarding close combat. Also, her scenes with a surprise cameo actor (I won’t spoil who it is because I didn’t know he was coming) playing her ex-boyfriend Marlamin were the highlight of this movie. Hugh Grant continues his renaissance of playing “charming bastards” and yet again gives us a funny, charming and villainous performance.
I also appreciated the action shot in a creative way, which seems to be a staple for Daley and Goldstein. After their movie Game Night (2018), they seemed to be carving this niche for themselves of directors who understand action and comedy and can blend them together well. I am on board with that and can’t wait to see what they direct next.
The only reason I am not giving this movie “the full rating” is just my feeling. The film didn’t “hit” me to that level where I would want to rewatch it instantly. And maybe, who knows, when I rewatch it, I will discover that I was a simpleton, and there was no reason to hold off on that “full rating”. But for now, I had a blast; I can’t critique much, just there was something about this film that “prevented” me from fully giving in.
Overall, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is a nearly excellent film that understood the assignment. Yet again, 2023 seems to be the year when we finally cracked down on game adaptations, and we can hope Hollywood has learned their lessons and, from now on, no more excuses. We have had a couple of excellent ones, and this movie 100% belongs in that conversation, as any normies (such as myself) can enjoy it alongside the hardcore fans who worship this game. I had a great time and would be open to a sequel.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Until next time,
Luke