Nerds That Geek Movie Review – ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Justice Smith plays Simon, Chris Pine plays Edgin, Sophia Lillis plays Doric and Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves from Paramount Pictures and eOne. (Photo Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.)

There are few brands in this world that are as universally recognized as Dungeons & Dragons, and understandably so. Simply because D&D has become something of a rite of passage since its inception in the mid 1970s, where middle schoolers and teenagers in general must play, and in doing so… they’ve taken part in an experience that has touched so many lives and inspired so many people. Since this journey has given some people a place to belong and an understanding of what their imagination is capable of and for that reason, people know this board game inside and out and can speak to their experience with it, be it brief or extensive, without giving it much thought, and it is so popular and so recognized, it is also deeply rooted in the fabric of pop-culture. Since so many creators have paid tribute to it in their own work over the years.   
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But what is fascinating about D&D, is that despite it being a brand that everyone knows, and despite it being so incredibly beloved and embraced by its fans, and despite it becoming a fixture of pop-culture, this is that rare franchise that doesn’t have much in the way of a true visual companion to complement it. Sure, there was an animated series in the 1980s based on the game, but it took a lot of heat for its depictions of violence and only made it three seasons. And of course, there was a film that shared in the namesake that was released in 2000, but it was something of a dud with fans and critics alike. Leaving fans everywhere to wonder when they will have their visual companion piece for this franchise. One that pays it proper respect and introduces more to the wonder of this endless and intimate saga and well, it just so happens… the time has finally come.

For Friday will bring forth the release of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a brand-new feature from Paramount Pictures and eOne, that does the seemingly impossible, and properly pays tribute to this franchise in a fun and dynamic manner. One that makes it a true and welcome addition to the legacy of D&D. All by introducing us to a man named Edgin Darvis. A noble thief that was once a noble man, who has fallen upon hard times. For he has spent the last two years in prison over a botched heist and he wants nothing more than to leave prison with his best friend Holga, so that he can finally live the life he desperately desires. But an early and illegal exit from prison, and some stunning revelations regarding the status of his daughter, leave Edgin in a unique and devastated place. Wherein he decides he must do whatever it takes to have the life he’s dreamt of for years now, and that will provide him, Holga, and some new friends with quite the adventure. One that will test Edgin and his friends like never before and potentially show them the path to becoming the people they’ve always wanted to be. 

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Which is a plot that at first glance, just seems like a run of the mill adventure story. One that couldn’t possibly speak to the wonder of D&D, much less fit into it. But that’s the magic of this plot. Because it just… plops us into this majestic world. Where the creatures that populate it are nothing more than an everyday occurrence and where the spirit of adventure that the game embodies matters above anything else. Granted, the callouts to the lore are there as well, since the Underdark plays an important role, and there are other shout outs. But this is a story that really wants to focus on what makes Dungeons & Dragons such an addicting board game. Specifically, that sense of adventure, of camaraderie and being able to do incredible things with characters born in a world where the incredible is commonplace and that plot truly does pay proper homage to the franchise and truly allows for it to fit within the lexicon, making it the first ever perfect D&D screen story. 
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But what truly makes this film so incredibly special, is that it offers so much more. Because there is depth to this story, courtesy of its characters and what they desire in this magical life, and there is growth for them to be found as well. Not to mention, the film features commentary on what it means to be a good person, how failure is part of the journey and of course… what it means to have the right people on our side. Which allows for this movie to draw the audience deeply into it and root for the characters and their potential growth, and by giving us a story that is at times, incredibly relatable while setting it in the world of D&D, Directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley have created a story that makes this universe accessible to all. Where no one has to know the details of this iconic game to understand its outright wonder and sense of fun, and in going this route… they also remind the players… what it means to them.

How it gave them a place to belong, a place to be creative and a place to feel the thrill of a story that was made for them and only them in that moment. All of which makes this a magical motion picture, one that also features some wondrous comedic moments to keep things fun and some majestic performances from an incredible cast composed of up-and-coming stars such as Sophia Lillis and Justice Smith, and superstars such as Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Hugh Grant. Not to mention, there’s some epic cameos here as well. But what matters most, is that at long last, a movie has finally and properly encapsulated the spirit and the wonder of a game that has touched the lives of so many in some form or fashion. Courtesy of sprawling adventures and beautiful landscapes, and meaningful moments that move us, and it also doesn’t hurt that this movie features an incredibly hilarious sequence involving the chonkiest mythical creature ever seen, and the best news of all… is that fans only have to wait a few more days to explore the wonder of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, since it hits theaters on Friday, March 31, 2023.

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