Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a laugh riot through and through in the newest big screen adventure based on the game.

There is a mid-credit scene.

I want to preface this review by saying that I have never played the game. My only knowledge of it is because of Freaks and Greeks and The Big Bang Theory. In any event, the Game Night filmmakers manage to crush it again with their latest outing. Both filmmakers grew up playing the game so they have a firm grasp of what would make the film work. The 2018 action comedy might be a different film but their screenwriting is no different. We meet another crop of characters that we won’t forget anytime soon. It’s hard to top “Oh no, he died” but this film has some funny moments.

Even when he plays a thief, Chris Pine still has the charisma necessary to pull off the role. In this film, he’s joined by a few others in a quest to retrieve a lost relic. This is one of those films where anything that can go wrong…will go wrong. As an audience, we’re in for a treat from the moment that Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine) is telling his story during a pardon hearing alongside barbarian Holga (Michelle Rodriguez). They were once allies with Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant) and Sofina (Daisy Head) but found themselves betrayed. And now, Edgin seeks justice and a reunion with his daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman). Edgin and Holga are joined by sorcerer Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), paladin Xenk Yendar (Regé-Jean Page) and Tiefling Druid shapeshifter Doric (Sophia Lillis).

I’m not going to get into specifics of the film’s plot. After all, this is an epic adventure that takes our characters from point A to point B. But again, one does not need to be familiar with the game to enjoy this adventure. There’s no need to be familiar with the Harpers or the Red Wizards of Thay. That’s the genius of Goldstein, Daley, and Michael Gilio. They know that not everybody watching the film will have been a player of the game. Together, they find the right mix of action-adventure, comedy, and drama. From where I was sitting, they most definitely succeeded with their goal. In short, the film puts its own twist on the classic hero’s journey.

It’s not an understatement to say that they hit a home run off the bat with casting Chris Pine. Two, the filmmakers manage to let Hugh Grant have some fun on the screen, too. After all, the wrote the film with him in mind for the role. Honestly, I can’t really imagine anyone else playing Forge–not after watching the film. I love watching Grant just disappear into a role and have some fun like he does here and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. Okay, Paddington 2, too.

The filmmakers make great use of the soundstages at Titanic Studios, let alone all that Belfast, Ireland has to offer. This film’s scenery is absolutely gorgeous. You can tell that they go for practicality whenever necessary. I’m not familiar with the game so I don’t know if they’ll exceed fan expectations in that regard but they did the job for me. Meanwhile, Lorne Balfe, a DnD player himself, handles scoring duties for the film.

It’s almost certain that this film will be getting a sequel. Of course, it’s going to depend on the box office with its $151 million budget. In any event, Paramount is betting big on the brand because Rawson Marshall Thurber is creating a live-action series for Paramount+. Even though I have no experience with the game itself outside of this film, I’ll be sure to tune in.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a fun adventure that does not require being familiar with the game.

DIRECTORS: Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley
SCREENWRITERS: Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley and Michael Gilio
CAST: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head, and Hugh Grant

Paramount releases Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves in theaters on March 31, 2023. Grade: 4/5

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