Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis and Hugh Grant, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is the latest film by Game Night directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. The film follows a group of bandits, led by bard Edgin (Pine), as they aim to outsmart the Lord of Neverwinter.
When the first Dungeons & Dragons film adaptation was released in 2000, it didn’t set the world on fire – in fact, it bombed at the box office. But its financial success (or lack of it) didn’t deter it from becoming a film trilogy, with its sequel and threequel being released in 2005 and 2012 respectively. But while the film series failed to win audiences, the synonymous tabletop game has become increasingly popular over the last two decades due to it being consistently referenced in popular culture, not to mention its famous fanbase that includes Wil Wheaton, Jon Favreau and Vin Diesel. Along with a need to correct the wrong set by the 2000 adaptation, the stage is set for a new modern film adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons.
The film sees outlaws and best friends Edgin and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) escape prison after a botched heist resulted in their incarceration. Upon returning home, they discover their group has disbanded and Edgin’s teenage daughter Kira (Gunpowder Milkshake‘s Charlotte Coleman) is now in the care of their former comrade Forge (Hugh Grant) and sorceress Sofina (Daisy Head). The duo aim to rescue Kira and band together with sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith), human-hating tiefling druid Doric (Sophia Lillis) and paladin Xenk (Regé-Jean Page) to save the day.
Written by Goldstein, Daley and Michael Gilio, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves sets itself as a typical Dungeons and Dragons game: there are the heroes, villains and the end goal – in this case, beating the bad guy amid a complex treasure hunt. It presents a conventional structure but with such a straightforward plot, it leaves itself even more open to criticism – and in Honour Among Thieves, there is an overwhelming emphasis on the fun factor to enact the excitement of a real-life D&D game. Subsequently, the narrative occasionally loses its footing to stumble into clichés, inconsistent character development, and dialogue that shoots for laughter that not only scores but sometimes misfires. Several attempts to evoke emotion through bouts of self-doubt and self-reflection also become lost amid the action, which makes the audience wonder whether these moments are needed within the narrative.
The biggest draw of the film is the cast, who seem to have a whale of a time. Pine presents himself as the Hannibal Smith of the group – quick to plan (with mixed results) and crack a joke but isn’t super-skilled in combat. Instead, he comes across as the likeable rogue with the power of comical persuasion. The unlikely anchor of the group is Michelle Rodriguez’s Holga – compassionate yet lethal, she brings an unexpected empathy through her relationships with others but she proves she throw down. Both Pine and Rodriguez share a likeable chemistry that reflects their characters’ friendship that thankfully doesn’t sway into an unnecessary romance. This leaves Smith and Lillis to pick up the heart-shaped baton to offer an awkward and understated romance to the narrative, as well as additional layers to complement the ragtag group dynamic. However, Page’s straight-talking badass Xenk is underused – a surprising move as his comedic skills are on point with some of the film’s best lines. Meanwhile, Grant has comfortably settled into the role of the dastardly villain after his memorable turn in Paddington 2 to delivers buckets of smarm – an interesting contrast to one of the film’s other unsung stars, Shadow & Bone actress Daisy Head, who is pitch perfect as cold and sinister sorceress Sofina.
Visually, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is a traditional “popcorn movie” with buckets of entertainment. Rather than delve into deep dramatics of fantasy shows such as Game of Thrones, The Witcher or The Wheel of Time, Goldstein and Daley have a vision of delivering a family-friendly, action-packed adventure to “lighten up” the genre while staying true to the game. With that in mind, they mostly deliver in their direction through an abundance of thrilling action scenes that range from chases and sword fights. They are also sure to include small touches such as fantastical elements and certain D&D characters, including paladins, halflings and the Red Wizards of Thay, to lift the film to better present itself as a D&D adaptation, rather than just another fantasy action-comedy.
Overall, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is buckets of fun, with great performances and genuine laugh-out loud moments that will entertain audiences. There may be audiences rooting around for substance but similar a D&D game, they should just roll with it and enjoy themselves.
Only available on 4K UHD™ discs:
- Fantastic Foes – Explore the dark side of D&D with a look at the film’s complex and fascinating villains.
- The Bestiary – Check out the cutting-edge visual effects, prosthetics, and intricate costumes that went into the creation of the movie’s magical beings and fantastical beasts.
- Forging the Forgotten Realms – Discover the secrets behind the exciting sets and breathtaking locations in far away lands!
Only available on 4K UHD™ and Blu-ray™ discs:
- From Dice to Dragons: Honoring the Lore – Go behind-the-scenes with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and the cast and crew to witness the thrilling journey of bringing the classic board game to life in the ultimate D&D experience.
- Rogues’ Gallery: The Heroes of Dungeons & Dragons – Get an in-depth look at the heroes of the film as the cast delves into their characters and reveals the secrets behind bringing them to life on screen.
- Broadswords, Battle-axes & Badass Brawls – Dive into epic fight sequences with a behind-the-scenes look at the mind-blowing stunts and powerful weaponry that went into this heart-pumping action adventure.
- Deleted and Extended Scenes
Eating Ash – Extended
Harper’s Sanctuary – Extended
Corpse 6 – Extended
Available on 4K UHD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD discs:
- Gag Reel – Don’t miss the hilarious gag reel with bloopers and outtakes.
- Deleted and Extended Scenes
Gorg’s Arrival – Extended
Ice Breaker – Extended
Harassing Holga – Deleted
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is available on DVD, Blu-ray™, 4K UHD™, and 4K UHD™ + Blu-ray™ SteelBook® from 31st July.
Rating: 
Director: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley; Michael Gilio (co-screenwriter)
Stars: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, Justice Smith,
Runtime: 134 minutes
Country: USA
