Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves isn’t just one of the best films of 2023, it’s one of the best fantasy films in decades. True, the fantasy genre hasn’t been the same since The Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter franchise wrapped, but the Dungeons & Dragons franchise seems poised to make a major cinematic comeback if this terrific effort is any indication.
Co-directors/co-screenwriters Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and co-screenwriter Michael Gilio weave the proper balance to be respectful of the source material while being welcoming to newcomers.
This is largely accomplished by sticking to the established genre rules of setting up the quest, introducing party members, a few challenges along the way culminating in a big final battle. The filmmakers shake up the formula however, by going against some tropes and injecting humor to the mix.
Making a funny fantasy movie is not easy. Too many dud jokes and the film can’t recover. Good thing for Honor Among Thieves then that the comedy works and the intended gags land. Some of that success is due to having a game star in Chris Pine. Pine is arguably the most versatile of “The Chrises” — (Evans, Hemsworth and Pratt) — able to switch from coldhearted assassin to hilarious jokester the next film.
Pine (The Contractor) is Edgin, a harpist who’s quicker with his tongue than his fingers. There’s maybe a handful of leading men who could pull off this role, but Pine felt the best suited. He’s called on to be the standard scoundrel type main character who’s more Jack Burton than Jack Bauer. The more competent fighter and RPG staple party member gladiator role is filled by Ed’s best friend, Holga (Michelle Rodriguez, Fast X).
This dynamic could have gone screwy if Goldstein and Daley went too hard into emasculating Ed to make Holga look dominating. It works as the directors focus on character strengths and Holga just so happens to be the powerhouse of this group.
Ed and Holga are before a parole board as Ed tries to explain why they should be released. Yes, they have taken up a life of thieves, but it’s more due to Ed having to raise his daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman, Marry Me), on his own with dwindling resources. And he and his crew got pretty good at stealing.
Ed’s fast-talking and Holga’s actions lead to their release, but the reunion with Kira doesn’t go as planned. Their old party member, Forge (Hugh Grant, Glass Onion), set himself up as the lord of an extravagant land. Forge did so using the funds the crew collected on their last score. And he’s aligned with the witch, Sofina (Daisy Head), who betrayed them. Worse, Ed entrusted Forge to take care of Kira, but he’s turned her against him.
With Sofina proving an unbeatable bodyguard, Ed and Holga need some help. Enter their old running buddy, Simon (Justice Smith, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), a sorcerer who still hasn’t quite mastered many spells. And for subterfuge, they recruit shape changer Doric (Sopia Lillis, It Chapter Two) for infiltration and some extra muscle.
After the party is assembled the real fun begins with a mesmerizing escape sequence when Doric gets caught eavesdropping and is forced to flee the castle. It’s a wonderfully shot scene with Doric constantly changing forms and the consistent –yet never disorienting — camera movement.
There’s another winning scene that brings the comedy elements to the forefront. That scene truly shows that the humor can work properly in the context of the film without coming off as trying too hard.
Regé-Jean Page has a fun supporting role as Xenk, a warrior a little too skilled and competent to stay long-term with the party. While far too brief, Page’s screentime is memorable and another highlight.
Based on their resume with efforts like Waiting, Game Night and Horrible Bosses, Goldstein and Daley could be counted on to make the comedy bits effective. Their competency with the action scenes was a very welcome surprise. They set up the sequences well and really infuse modern action sensibilities into a world with dragons work so incredibly well. The layout of the action is clear and easy to follow with enough pans and zooms to provide camera assists with the intensity and thrills. Goldstein and Daley escalate the action sequences properly so the best fight scene isn’t midway through the film.
Honor Among Thieves also benefits from its tremendous ensemble. Rodriguez has emerged as one of the more prominent action leading women in Hollywood and has little trouble with the physicality of Holga. Smith and Lillis play off each other wonderfully, Head makes for a menacing and mysterious villain while Grant is at his mischievous best.
Longtime D&D fans will appreciate the shout out to another popular era of the lore in far more than a glorified Easter Egg.
Despite its two hour and 14 minutes run time, the film doesn’t feel long. It plays out more like an 80s quest movie, so the length feels appropriate in setting the stage, developing the characters and establishing the threat.
With this immensely talented cast and filmmakers hitting the right mark, the most honorable thing to do would be to start working on a sequel.
