A One Mann’s Movies review of “Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves” (2023).
I saw this well ahead of its 31st March release date thanks to an unexpected Cineworld Secret Screening event: one where you don’t know what the preview film is going to be before it starts. I did have a backup booking for 30 minutes later in case the film wouldn’t be suitable for The Illustrious Mrs Movie Man and the Saintly Sarah Shaw, who were accompanying me on this trip. And I must confess that as the BBFC title came up, I um’d and ah’d about whether to stay. Since I have generally NOT been a fan of these computer/game spin-off films.
But stay I did, and I had a BLAST of a time with this one. I found it to be a thoroughly entertaining fantasy romp. (Although the two ladies with me did think that my current dosing with prescription medicines might be partly to blame!)
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Edgin (Chris Pine) is a knight (of sorts) who falls foul of red wizards and as a result gets his wife killed. When seeking an artefact that could restore her to life, Edgin and his right-hand-woman Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) are captured and thrown into a remote prison. But they are intent on escaping, gathering a team around them and in finding the artefact.
Certification:
UK: 12; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC: “Moderate violence, threat, horror, language”).
Talent:
Starring: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head.
Directed by: John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein.
Written by: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley & Michael Gilio. (Based on a story by Chris McKay & Michael Gilio).
Twitter Handle: #DnDMovie.
Hugh Grant in fine form as the villainous Forge. (Source: Entertainment One).
“Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves” Review:
Positives:
- This is a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I had a lot of fun, and laughed multiple times during the run-time. There’s one particular sequence (in a graveyard) that is positively Pythonesque!
- There’s a really great cast for a film of this type:
- Pine and Rodriguez crackle together. And Regé-Jean Page, who’s not yet really parlayed his “Bridgerton” fame into a movie career (not until he’s announced as the new Bond that is!) simmers magnificantly as eye-candy for the ladies in this.
- The younger supporting cast – Justice Smith as a dodgy magician; Sophia Lillis as a shape-shifter and Chloe Coleman as Edgin’s daughter Kira – are all great. Sophia Lillis (who made a strong impression as the young Beverly from “It” and “It: Chapter 2“) is particularly striking here. Her naturally elfin features really fit the role perfectly. I predict she’ll be a popular poster pin-up on nerdy teenage bedroom walls across the land!
- Hugh Grant is on cracking form. Delivering a variant of his Phoenix Buchanan from “Paddington 2“, he sparkles as the villain of the piece. Some of his lines cracked me up – more from his delivery than the content.
- There is a delightful, if ‘small’, cameo for another A-list actor that I won’t spoil here. (It’s as yet not been spoiled on IMDB either!) (By the way, I wondered if his partner (“Gwen”) was also a famous cameo (she is not on IMDB either), but I couldn’t place her. And I think I recognized the ‘great great grandfather’, but again I’m not positive.)
- There’s a chaotic nature to the world-building that I really liked. (There are probably a lot of Easter Eggs in here for D&D fans that went right over my head). And the landscapes are impressive (some of the movie was filmed in and around Belfast so I’m guessing these were CGI’d versions of the Mourne Mountains).
- Hats off to the casting team on this one (Leo Davis and Lissy Holm): a movie skill that is often overlooked in the major awards (outside of the BAFTAs!). Here, as well as the excellent blend of talent in the leads, all of the supporting artists just fit into the mix really well.
- There was a cracking soundtrack by Lorne Balfe that I will be listening to again.
Negatives:
- I thought that some of the green screen effects (e.g. in that ‘small’ cameo scene I referenced above) were a bit shonky. For example, it never felt like Michelle Rodriguez and “XXX” (no spoilers) we’re in the same room during that scene.
Summary Thoughts on “Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves”
It may be the ‘roids talking. Or it might be that I was just delighted to be back in a packed cinema again after an absence of over a week. But, against all the odds, I really loved this one and had a whale of a time. It’s definitely one for a re-watch (off the drugs!) when it is released in a couple of week’s time.
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Trailer for “Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiMinixSXII .
