IR Film Review: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS - HONOR AMONG THIEVES [Paramount]
The context of "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" is an ode on loss wrapped in an element of fantasy. The movie is wonderfully cast (almost...save for one -- but that makes sense in a weird way as well). The film has a light tone that is very hard to walk in this type of genre. Chris Pine plays Edgin, a man with nothing quite but his wit as a leader and yet this is a more effortless role than we have seen from the actor in a while. This is a compliment because with either Kirk or Steve in "Wonder Woman" there recently seemed to be a lack of tongue-in-cheek recently that really worked. That has to always do with direction. Even "Don't Worry Darling" always found itself mired in stakes with his character.
"D&D" has that but by not taking itself too seriously. When it finally comes to bear in one scene, it is not overplayed, not dwelled on...but it works. Same goes for Michelle Rodriguez as Holga. She is bulked up (again not necessart) but again, the film allows her to live in Holga and show her colors. It is not exactly the role you think it is and it is all the better for it. Some simple jump cuts at the end bring so much to bear and Holga is also the perfect foil for Edgin in that he simply knows he needs her but doesn't over play it and neither does she. It is just understood. The two other members in the team per se perfectly balance it with Sophia Lillis who plays Doric, an elf/shapeshifters of sorts and Justice Smith as the would-be magician Simon. Again, pitch perfect direction as far as look and humor and the film knows where it is going, even when the characters don't which is fine. The heroes are more interesting than any villain here and that is key There is a couple cool set pieces but one where Doric escapes a castle is pretty involved and cool. But there are many others including in a moving caravan as well as one space in the underworld (which bears an interesting resemblance to "Baron Munchausen" -- which is a better reference than "Monty Python" which others have been making).
Wizards Of The Coast were advisers on the film and one can feel those little bits of humor (aka The Fat Dragon) that just work beautifully because of the irony but also small scenes that could have been excised but really add texture. There is one where Holga returns home after being away in prison (it is just something she has to do) and has to have a heart to heart with someone. There is a brilliant cameo here that one wouldn't expect but it adds so much richness to Holga. That is what the film is good at. It has the details and some big sequences to keep people engaged but with the right amount of humor and chemistry that makes the characters enjoyable without being something to think too much about afterwards. And that is what a movie experience is all about. B+
By Tim Wassberg
