It’s rare to watch a movie which brings you nothing but sheer and absolute joy, from start to finish, and I can safely say Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves does exactly that.
It’s a rollercoaster of laughs and you don’t even have to understand (or even be a fan of) the tabletop role-playing game of the same name to enjoy the film adaption.
‘Dungeons and Dragons’ review
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves tick all the boxes. You want action? Check. Fantasy and adventure with a dash of terrifying monster? You got it.
An incredible quest to give you goosebumps and keep you entertained? We wouldn’t expect anything less.
WATCH: ‘Honor Among Thieves’ trailer
Without spoiling it, here’s why I loved it so much and why I believe it should be right at the top of your must-see movie lineup for 2023.
You get your regular rag-tag group of friends, the unlikely hero types, who embark on an adventure to search for a powerful artefact.
Their journey is not without peril and our misfits come face-to-face with many obstacles along the way.
They must overcome everything from evil forces and conniving enemies to achieve their goal.
It’s playful, it’s fun, it’s goofy and I’m trying really hard not sound biased and oversell it too much (flaws and all) but is worth every minute spent in the cinema.
Direction and writing
Of course, Honor Among Thieves was co-directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (who also worked on Spider-Man: Homecoming) and their track record speaks for itself.
WATCH: ‘Honor Among Thieves’ is hot, hot, hot
The directors said they wanted the mix of earnest fun and absurd comedy of their childhood favourites, inspired by the likes of The Goonies and The Princess Bride.
“We’ve seen stoic, humourless portrayals of fantasy characters in almost every other film and television show, and this was our reaction against that,” Daley said in a recent interview.
Even the original writing – expertly handled by Chris McKay and Michael Gilio – deserved recognition for introducing a heist-theme to a fantasy action film.
RELATED: ‘Romcoms are a big fat lie’– Hugh Grant
‘Honor Among Thieves’ cast
The main role – a witty bard and disgraced hero named Edgin – is brought to life by Chris Pine while Michelle Rodrigues portrays his best friend, the barbarian Holga.
Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez brought a truly captivating performance and added a delightful layer of depth to the storyline.
Other cast members include Hugh Grant as the rogue Forge, Regé-Jean Page as paladin Xenk, Justice Smith at sorcerer Simon and Sophia Lillis as druid Doric.
They played off each other so well, being heart-warming and hilarious in equal parts. I’d even go so far as to say their chemistry was the highlight of the movie.
TL;DR, just go watch it
Overall, the dialogue is witty and fresh, the action is non-stop and in-your-face, and the performances are on point.
WATCH: Regé-Jean Page: Goofy and heroic
In fact, even Hugh Grant described Pine as a “genius because he isn’t annoying or nauseating or too good to be true.”
Speaking to Den of Geek, Grant also had nothing but praise for the writers, saying: “On the whole, the script didn’t enhancements. They are very good writers.”
Whether you are a seasoned D&D player or a newcomer, Honor Among Thieves is an absolute feast for the senses and an exhilarating must-see.
