Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

 

7/10

 Starring

Chris Pine

Michelle Rodriguez

Regé-Jean Page

Justice Smith

Sophia Lillis

Hugh Grant

 

Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley

 

This movie is cool, and I can understand why it’s a hit with both audiences and critics. It has a nice blend of fantasy, adventure, and comedy. This family-friendly movie got me in the end with its emotions, and it did well in not making me guess how the stone, which is the centerpiece of the journey, would be used. While it was easy to figure out when the opportunity to use it arose, the movie distracted me with so much going on that I often forgot about the stone altogether. These distractions include a lack of solid plans, how seemingly amazing plans fall apart in the end, and just when you think our heroes are on their way to a happy ending, you remember the villains aren’t just bad—they’re downright evil.

The movie is said to stay true to its source material. Since I’m not a fan of the original material, nor have I read any of it or played any of its games (video or board), I’ll have to take the audience’s word for it. This alone is one of the movie’s biggest selling points—the way it handles its magic system and introduces someone like me, who knows nothing about the world of Dungeons and Dragons, to its lore. I got swept up in the charm of this movie and now look forward to a sequel.

The plot centers around Edgin (Chris Pine), who forms a crew with Holga (a barbarian and the adoptive mother of Edgin’s daughter, Kira), Simon (an amateur sorcerer), and Forge (a con man). The crew makes a living through heists, stealing just enough to take care of themselves. One day, a mysterious woman named Sofina approaches the group with a job, offering to join them. Edgin is hesitant, but Forge convinces him that this journey might even help him reunite with his late wife.

Things don’t go as planned, and Edgin and Holga are captured and imprisoned for two years. During this time, Forge steps in to care for Kira, while Simon flees. When Edgin and Holga are finally released, they discover that Forge is now a leader of a town, with Sofina by his side. Kira has grown close to Forge and sees him as her adoptive father. The reunion doesn’t go as planned, forcing Edgin and Holga to go on the run. They must rebuild their crew to steal back the treasures they lost during the heist that led to their capture. Meanwhile, Forge isn’t willing to let Kira go, and Edgin must prove himself if he wants to win back her trust and love.

This is a fun movie with plenty of twists and turns. I won’t say much more to avoid giving anything away, but it’s worth your time to check it out.