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Dungeons & Dragons 2023 -- a review

After a disastrous first attempt at making a movie in 2000, with Dungeons & Dragons, they’ve tried it again in 2023 with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. And this time, they’ve scored a bullseye in creating a very successful quest. Fresh from the behind the scenes shenanigans of the vastly disappointing Don’t Worry Darling, Chris Pine stars (and also has a producer credit) here as charming thief Edgin Darvis, who breaks out of jail with his partner in crime Holga Kilgore, played by the always great Michelle Rodriguez.

Edgin is eager to reconnect with Kira (Chloe Coleman), his young daughter, whom he left behind when he and Holga got caught while trying to pull a heist. They were out to score a magical amulet that would have brought Edgin’s deceased wife back from the dead. But, Edgin discovers that his old partner, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant)--who promised Edgin that he would take care of Kira--has become the ruler of the city of Neverwinter, and that Forge had poisoned Kira against Edgin and Holga. After barely escaping being murdered by the machinations of Sofina (Daisy Head), a powerful wizard working with Forge, Edgin and Holga form a team to infiltrate Neverwinter so they can rescue Kira.

Running against the current grain of the “dark and gloomy epic fantasy saga with everybody fighting to save the world” trend, the new D&D movie is a more vibrant, family-friendly adventure that’s a welcome change of pace. But while the D&D ‘23 movie is lighter in tone than most of the recent darker TV fantasy productions, it still takes its threats and villains very seriously in very well-executed action sequences. Even the extensive CGI sequences are extremely well done; they support the story while creating a great deal of tension without taking over the film.

The focus here is on the characters, and it helps that the movie has a great cast. Hugh Grant is superb as the dastardly, back-stabbing Forge. And Daisy Head is appropriately creepy as the mysterious Sofina. Justice Smith does a good job in playing Simon Aumar, a young sorcerer who’s always done in by his insecurities. Sophia Lillis, who was so good in the It remake films, is also great here as Doric, a shape-shifter who doesn’t trust humans (and with good reason).

Directors Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley have crafted the perfect blend of comedy and adventure, while deftly bringing to life the vast, imaginative fantasy world that these characters inhabit. Much like the Star Wars films, this D&D movie also has various critters and people wandering around in the background, giving the viewer the sense that there is a fully-evolved world that exist just beyond the fringes of the story we’re watching. The new D&D film was such a pleasure for me to watch that I really want to see more of these characters, and their well-thought out fantasy world, in a sequel. But even if we don’t get a sequel, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves can still confidentially stand alone as a highly enjoyable entry in the ever-growing fantasy film/TV genre. --SF

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves can be seen on the Paramount+ streaming service. It is also available on all physical media.

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