A cunning thief named Edgin (Chris Pine) and his warrioress pal Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) escape from prison and gather a team of sorcerers, shapeshifters, and rogues to steal a fortune from their former associate, Forge (Hugh Grant), who has set himself up as a lord of a thriving kingdom. To make matters worse, Forge has been manipulating Edgin’s estranged daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman) into hating her father. Together with his ragtag group of misfits, Edgin sets out to take down Forge, win back Kira, and defeat an evil witch who has aligned herself with Forge.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves comes to us from directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the men who gave us Vacation and Game Night. Because of that, it’s much more of a swashbuckling comedy than an out and out sword and sandal flick. Pine is funny, light on his feet, and makes for a likeable hero. In fact, the whole movie is a little too light on its feet for its own good. It could’ve used a little bit of grit or a lot of piss and vinegar to make it stick. As it is, it’s an enjoyable, if forgettable romp.
It's also a little light in the Dungeons and Dragons department. I counted two dungeons and three dragons. That’s just enough to justify the title, but not enough to make it worthwhile. Then again, I’ve never been a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, so what do I know? At least it’s better than that Jeremy Irons one.
There are some good moments here though. I liked the scene where the shapeshifter (Sophia Lillis from It) escaped the villain’s clutches. It’s all done in one take with her changing from animal to animal many times. The maze sequences is kind of fun too. The best scene though comes when the heroes must awaken skeletons from a graveyard. This stretch has a nifty Sam Raimi type of vibe to it. I wish this kind of spirit had been present through the rest of the picture, but as it is, it's not bad. It’s no In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, but it’ll do in a pinch.
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