Dungeons & Dragons : Honor Among Thieves SXSW Review

                   I spent many nights in my teenage years letting twenty side dice determine my next move.  Of course back then I might have been called a nerd or maybe even a loser, but I wouldn’t trade those adventures with my friends for a golden goblet. Times have changed and not only is playing Dungeons & Dragons a cool thing to do now, Honor Among Thieves is the latest to attempt to capture the feeling of this classic game. Well, I have played this new adventure and let me tell you, it’s the most fun I have had with D&D since those nights all those years ago.

Somewhere in the frozen wasteland sits a prison and in it are Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), as they serve out their punishment for trying to steal some treasure. Their freedom day has arrived and they can get back to their lives. For Edgin that means getting back to his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman), who is with Forge (Hugh Grant),who was part of Edgin and Holga’s band of thieves. Tracking him down was rather easy, as he is the ruler of a big city, and while the reunion seems sincere, soon they learn that Forge is not what he seems. If the lies he told Kira wasn’t a clear enough sign, I am sure having his guards turn them in and collect a bounty sure is. They escape once again and put together a plan to get Kira back and also rob Forge for good measure. They will need some help, so they find an old friend in Simon (Justice Smith) and make a new one in Doric (Sophia Lillis) and set up to complete this campaign.

Written by Michael Gilio, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the latter two also directing, together they have conjured up a tale that will not only please the hardcore players, but also someone who has never played in their life. The movie from the very beginning wears its heart on its sleeve and keeps it there the entire time, as you can’t help but love the characters. It is not just heart though, as you will have a good time in a movie that is driven by wit and character. This is also though a studio movie based on an well-known IP, so you also get the big action and special effects, but the film never overshadows its charm.

Dungeons & Dragons : Honor Among Thieves is everything I hoped it would be and more. Never once does it feel like a “ cool” kid playing a game he think is beneath him, instead the team behind this relishes in telling this story like you would playing the game. The cast is fantastic, with Pine, playing his most Chris Pine role in a while and Rodriguez playing the perfect sidekick. This could have easily been an attempt to make a D&D version of Lord of the Rings, or worse one like the 2000 film version, instead we get a fantasy adventure about love and family that is not ashamed of its decades old history. I promise you will have a good time with this film, maybe even by the end you’ll look at getting pencil, paper, dice and some good friends and have an adventure of your own.