DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES (2023)

I must admit that I was wrong about this one. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a crowd-pleasing, riotously funny and action-packed good time and a major surprise. I can’t wait to see more!

After a heist goes wrong and leaves lasting repercussions, a group of misfits bands together to set things right. The prospect of adapting the ever popular and involved Dungeons & Dragons property into a film must be a daunting one; there is a ton to pull from and legions of loyal fans that will be examining every detail with precision. The last attempt at doing so was 23 years ago with the likes of Jeremy Irons, Marlon Wayans, Thora Birch, and others, an effort that was panned by critics and audiences alike. So when Chris Pine was announced to lead the cast of Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Jesse Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant, and more, I was less-than enthused. The trailer did little to assuage my fears as fantasy films outside of superhero content have been nonstarters in recent years. I am thrilled to be able to sit here and gush about how downright awesome Honor Among Thieves is, combining recognizable pieces of the game with an accessible premise that builds on emotion and humor to deliver an absolute cinematic blast of a film. 

There is a meta aspect to Honor Among Thieves is consistently funny when recognized through witty banter and self-aware dialogue that paves an entertaining rink upon which the entire cast skates. Pine is damn near the best he’s been in years here, a charming hero that sets the emotional tone, but also lets it all loose in hilarious fashion. Rodriguez is Pine’s tag-team partner here, the two forming a fun duo who QB the rest of the talented cast that includes memorable heartthrob Jean Page and the excellent up-and-comer Coleman. The standout for me here, however, is Smith, playing an innocent, young, flawed character who is enlivened by the actor’s commitment. He brings the most vitality to the film in what could easily have been written as a cheesy side character. 

Directors (and part of the writing team) Jonathan M. Goldstein and John Francis Daley clearly went into this having a lot of fun as each scene is injected with infectious energy that is elevated by elaborate settings and top-notch CGI. It’s easy to get lost in the lands traversed and to get wrapped up in the team’s mission; the plot is flush with detail, yet focused in story. This is a film that will play well for the whole family with moments that you’ll cheer for, weep for, and simply be in awe of. I can’t stop thinking about it and plan on seeing it again very soon. It’s a fantasy epic for a new generation and there is a ton of road ahead.

Dungeon & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves hits theaters on Friday, March 31st.

Rating: 5/5