The fantasy genre is currently dominating both the small screen and the big screen with the likes of House of the Dragon, Fantastic Beasts, The Lord of the Rings, Shadow and Bone and many other imitators producing some strong magical content. The common trope with the genre at the moment is that everything is “heightened” and more adult-orientated, especially in terms of gore and sexual imagery. Fantasy is not all about this however, it is also about adventuring, and fun, and that is what the new Dungeons & Dragons film promises. Almost blending The Lord of the Rings with Monty Python, this original story of Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves has a lot of elements from the genre and has learnt what makes these kind of films attractive. It’s all about escapism and this is perfect film to escape into.
Dungeons & Dragons is off course a table-top game played with a group of family and friends with a Dungeon Master controlling the story and the outcome of events. Translating this game into a feature film then gives a lot of room for creativity and freedom as you could literally go anywhere. The filmmakers have taken this mantra and have stuck with it. They’ve created a band of characters who all have different personalities and forced them on an adventure together and see what kind of hijinks they get themselves into. It is very hard to find a stand-out performance from the group as they’re all just as funny and colourful as each other. Some characters include Chris Pine’s Edgin, Michelle Rodriguez’s Holga, Justice Smith’s Simon, Hugh Grant’s Forge and Sophia Lillis’ Doric. The chemistry and camaraderie between each of the characters is one of the many highlights of the film.
I am not a big fan of the table-top game that the film is based upon mainly due to the fact that I have never played it before, but that didn’t enjoy me from enjoying the film. There’s an assortment of creatures, from dead corpses, dragons, weird gelatinous clubs, mimic treasure chests and many more. Some of these do feel like easter eggs for the fans of the game, but to others these are just creative designs which feel part of the film’s DNA and help make it stand out from other fantasy films. The story isn’t your typical good versus evil either, with the story instead revolving around Edgin’s journey to reconnect with his daughter, while encountering an “evil” obstacle along the way. The focus is never on the “end of the world” which these sort of films tend to do, and that makes this story all the more enticing. As a result Dungeons & Dragons feels refreshing, and there’s even elements of the heist genre in this film too and an ending which surprises as well as feeling heartfelt.
I would love to say Dungeons & Dragons is the perfect film but sadly there are some faults, all rather minor though. It does feel overstuffed with characters and sub-plots, which a lot of films these days tend to do, and it does feel just as long as a Lord of the Rings film. The characters can sometimes appear silly and the tone does change from serious to comedic quite swiftly too, which is by no means a fault but it can distract you from the main adventure. Saying that there are some very funny comedy elements, especially with the reveal of Holga’s ex-husband and a bit in a graveyard where they’re attempting to find a mighty helmet. These moments are where the Monty Python feeling comes from, and it is great to see a film not take itself too seriously. The result is a very fun experience.
One of the last things I have to mention is the emphasis on real-world locations and the set buildings for the film, as well as the prosthetics for some of the characters and creatures all of which make the film look almost like it was made in a different era, but it is so refreshing to see more of these and less visual effects considering how overused effects are these days. The opening of the film sees a wonderful castle set and a hilarious avian character brought to life by the use of costumes, which almost takes you back to the Star Wars days. The influence on films such as Star Wars and The Dark Crystal are infused in certain sequences such as these, and again for the sake of repeating myself, it makes the whole film feel so fresh and different. I cannot emphasise enough how much fun this film is. Go in with little expectations and you’ll be pleasantly surprised, trust me!
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is a surprise in the best way possible. By giving audiences a different perspective on the fantasy genre, we are treated to something that we rarely see. A fun, original and downright hilarious film that is full of love and heart as well. The characters may appear silly and over-the-top but they feel fleshed out and three-dimensional. The villains are just as fun as the protagonists, and each set piece offers something new and different too. As a fan of the games, or of the genre, or of the inspiration of the films that inspired this one, you will gain something from this film and by the end you will be wanting more adventures in this magical world.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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