Written by: Gretchen Sims
A Dungeons & Dragons movie has been in the works for a while now. Multiple studios fought to be the first to cater to the growing geek audience. Recently, on Mar. 10, Paramount Pictures graced the D&D community with “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.”
Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, this riveting adventure-comedy stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis and Hugh Grant.
The campaign was set in the Forgotten Realms — a gameplay scenario designed by Ed Greenwood in 1967 and adapted into the D&D world in 1987 — and follows a band of social misfits on a quest to reunite a family.
This movie ticks all the boxes. The producers managed to perfectly capture the chaotic and spontaneous nature of a D&D campaign. From a tumbling chunky dragon almost squashing the crew to a thrown potato being the climax of the movie, one can feel the role-playing game integrated into almost every line.
Out of this chaos arises the humor that has helped rocket this film to box office success. There were several moments when I was doubled over in the theater — unable to see the screen due to the tears in my eyes.
The characters are very relatable — all very much human despite their fantasy-like nature. I frequently found myself relating to the wizard who could not use magic to fix any of their problems. Each character was loveable and developed well — the audience couldn’t help but root for them every step of the way.
While this movie had me rolling on the floor laughing, it also produced tender, heartwarming moments that satisfied both the heart and the wit. The storyline itself was complicated — closely resembling a game of D&D — but easy to follow. I would highly recommend this film to all those who enjoy role-playing games. It was truly a masterpiece and it is hopefully the first of many to come. This is such an interesting genre to explore because it allows such creativity for the writers and producers while still acting as the classic fantasy movie that audiences love.
8.5/10.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
