'Dungeons & Dragons' review: You don't need to be a fantasy gamer to revel in 'Honor Among Thieves'
The “Lord of the Rings” movies, “Game of Thrones” and other fantasy fare have plenty of expansive world-building and eye-popping visual effects. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is where you turn to have some of that and laugh your lute off too.
Based on the popular role-playing game and far better than that forgettable 2000 “D&D” big-screen outing, “Thieves” (★★★ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters Friday) is a clever and often hilarious action adventure that overcomes pacing issues with well-crafted characters and a host of wondrous creatures both stunning and icky. It’s also a good fantasy film for people who don’t really care for fantasy, led by a winningly goofy turn from Chris Pine.
'Dungeons & Dragons' embraces the game's group dynamic
Doing time in an icy prison for thieving and skullduggery, Edgin the Bard (Pine) and his barbarian partner Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) pull off a daring escape with the best of intentions: Edgin wants to reunite with his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) and also find a resurrection tablet that will bring his wife back to life after she died courtesy of a cursed blade. Now on the run, Edgin and Holga find that their old partner, the rogue Forge (Hugh Grant) – who’s been looking after Kira as her guardian – is now the greedy lord of a kingdom working with a shady red wizard named Sofina (Daisy Head).
A betrayal leads to Edgin and Holga plotting both a rescue and a heist, and for that, they need a motley crew with specific skills. They track down an old insecure sorcerer friend of theirs, Simon (Justice Smith), and then recruit Doric (Sophia Lillis), a shapeshifting druid who’s distrustful of humans. When they figure out they need a magical helmet, the gang finds help in the form of paladin Xenk (Regé-Jean Page), a bit of a charming know-it-all.
Chris Pine moves up in the all-important Hollywood Chris rankings
Writing/directing duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (“Game Night”) put together an inspired cast for “Thieves.” Pine, a highlight of 2022's rather woeful “Don’t Worry Darling,” is a silly, lute-strumming gem as Edgin but also gives the thief enough heroic pep to make you care about him. Grant finds a nice balance between smarmy and treacherous, Head is deliciously over-the-top evil, Rodriguez enjoyably crushes so many dudes, and Lillis’ character is the real scene-stealer, spending time as everything from a deer to a fearsome (and seriously cool) owlbear.
The fantasy visuals are pretty slick, especially when it comes to the magical creatures that populate the world. There are assorted dragons (obviously, they’re right there in the title) but also our heroes meet a panther-type thing with tentacles, a monstrous chest with some nasty teeth and an impressive tongue, and a gelatinous cube that traps people and slowly eats them alive.
You don't need to be a 'D&D' expert to dig these 'Thieves'
While it won’t test your patience, “Thieves” does feel bloated at nearly two and a half hours. It’s still shorter than your average round of the game, though you don’t really have to have knowledge of “D&D” going in – or any fantasy fandom, for that matter – to enjoy the movie’s best moments, including a priceless bit where our heroes have to dig up and interrogate dead soldiers for important information.
Yet the movie never makes fun of its world. Instead, “Thieves” finds its humorous magic by placing relatable characters in fantastical circumstances, sprinkled with heart, whimsy and friendship.
For more on 'Dungeons' and its stars:
'Dungeons & Dragons': Chris Pine reveals what game gave him 'trauma'
Comic-Con: 'Dungeons & Dragons' stars Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page reveal film's first trailer
'Don't Worry Darling': Chris Pine (finally) sets record straight on co-star Harry Styles spit rumors
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Dungeons and Dragons' review: Chris Pine steals 'Honor Among Thieves'
