‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Review – An Entertaining But Empty Fantasy Romp [SXSW 2023]

There has never been a better time for a proper “Dungeons & Dragons” movie. As the game’s culture and audience have exploded on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, high fantasy adventures are all the rage with shows like Game of Thrones, The Rings of Power, and The Legend of Vox Machina (which is based on a literal D&D campaign).

That being said, Wizards of the Coast’s seminal RPG has always lent itself to storytelling. Dungeon Masters lead carefully crafted characters across a quest of intrigue and danger––what isn’t cinematic about that? Well, three failed attempts at capturing the game on film have seemed to convince people that it can’t be done, but Game Night directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley are here to prove the obvious: with the right voices at the helm, the world of D&D can seamlessly come to life.

Such is the case with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Paramount’s attempt to kickstart the series’ franchise potential. From the film’s very opening moments, it becomes clear that Goldstein and Daley were the perfect directorial duo for adapting what can be an endlessly confounding fantasy universe into an accessible action-adventure comedy.

The duo’s brand of imaginative, exciting direction separates it from other hardened fantasy franchises, but its inclusion of creatures and weapons ripped straight from the game’s manuals steep it deep in the genre’s appeal. Though it does succumb to clunky plotting and incohesive theming, what matters most is that both seasoned players and curious newcomers alike will have a blast in what is an entertaining, if empty, fantasy romp.

Like any hearty D&D session, the story begins with a lengthy helping of backstory. Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine) is a silver-tongued Bard and former peacekeeper who, after the death of his wife, resorts to thievery alongside his longtime friend and exiled barbarian, Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), to support his daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman). Following a heist gone wrong alongside partners Simon (Justice Smith) and Forge (Hugh Grant), the two are left imprisoned while Kira is left to live with Forge.

Two years later, the two have escaped, but are then double-crossed by Forge, a now wealthy ruler who has turned Kira against them. Desperate to get both reconciliation and revenge, Edgin and Holga assemble a new team of thieves to rob Forge dry and potentially resurrect Edgin’s wife. 

Part of the fun is seeing a game cast of modern stars commit to this high-concept exercise, but one wonders if Goldstein and Daley, alongside co-writer Michael Gilio, have overthunk the story. For a game that inspires relatively straightforward fetch quests, Honor Among Thieves hops from setpiece to setpiece in a bloated attempt to cross off a checklist of tropes.

The film’s fantasy caper premise sells itself; the film is at its strongest when it commits to familiar heist sequences with magical twists, including one incredible long-take following druid Doric (Sophia Lillis) transforming into several animals as she flees from reconnaissance. Though fans will additionally love to see reanimation spells and pudgy dragons, all of this filler keeps the story going in circles, all in service of disparate character arcs that very rarely meld into any cohesive or engaging thematic takeaway.

The casting also can feel a bit uneven. At the forefront is an effortlessly charming Chris Pine, who continues to prove he is a strong leading man in genre fare. Other scene-stealers include Hugh Grant, relishing in another posh and villainous role, as well as Regé-Jean Page, whose sex appeal continues to be dialed to 11.

Others, however, feel a bit miscast. Michelle Rodriguez, whose brand of acting has always felt a bit stunted, brings that same flavor here to mixed results. Sophia Lillis, the breakout star of the It remakes and an incredible young talent, has been written into a corner with a character that doesn’t let her personality come through.

Thankfully, despite all these flaws, the film is still plenty of fun and wholly delivers a well-realized cinematic vision for the world of “Dungeons and Dragons.” Gorgeous production design and a mix of both visual and practical effects reveal expansive environments, well-choreographed fight sequences, and strong creature designs. Fans of the original game will delight in picking apart the many name-drops and easter eggs, but casual moviegoers will also delight in exploring a new fantasy universe that doesn’t get too bogged down in terminology.

There is this sense that a new player in the fantasy genre is emerging, even if the back-and-forth between quality craftsmanship and blockbuster mediocrity holds it back from reaching greatness. Anyone holding out hope that this would rise above standard fare may be disappointed, but fans of the series, as well as anyone looking for a fun time at the theater, will surely enjoy what feels like the first in an exciting new series of adventures.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves had its World Premiere in the Headliners section of SXSW 2023. It is set to release in theaters nationwide on March 31, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

Director: Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley

Writer: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley and Michael Gilio

Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 134m

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGvv-Hhft3U]