Damn. We Really Did This Movie Dirty.

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is the gold standard of adaptation.

So last Wednesday, during my weekly ritual of grilling, drinking, vibing with my homies Andy and Keegan, I finally watched Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. I (like many others it seems) missed it when it was in theaters. Andy, like myself, hadn’t played much D&D, while our other bud Keegan is a massive D&D head.

Despite us having two very different relationships with the brand, we all had a fantastic time as D&D: Honor Among Thieves is honestly the gold standard when it comes to adaptations.

For those initiated in the world, it’s (from what I’m told) a surprisingly accurate take on the lore and the general feeling of playing through a D&D campaign. For those of us just watching a movie, it’s a thrilling, hilarious, and heartfelt adventure.

The story is simple-ish. Bard Edgin Darvis (a sublime Chris Pine), was once a member of the noble Harpers. He captures the evil Red Wizard, but he escapes and murders Edgin’s wife. Despondent, Edgin eventually meets Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), a barbarian and a thief. Determined to make a new life for himself and his daughter, he takes to the life of thief along with sorcerer Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), con artist Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), and Forge’s partner Sofina (Daisy Head). While on a heist to find the mystical Tablet of Reawakening to resurrect his dead wife, Edgin and Holga are captured and imprisoned.

Eventually they escape, and Edgin sets out once more to find the tablet so he can bring back his wife and mend his strained relationship with his daughter.

While the movie’s initial set up is a little busy, once it gets moving it doesn’t stop. Honor Among Thieves is an ensemble piece through and through and everyone delivers. Pine and Rodriguez have fantastic chemistry and I appreciate the film’s commitment to a completely platonic relationship between a man and a woman. Hugh Grant is just the most delightful scumbag. We really need to have a conversation about how hard this man has gone over the last decade and change. Regé-Jean Page shows up briefly as a Paladin and absolutely crushes it, nailing both the comedic timing and the action choreography.

Most attempts at merging the tones of fantasy and comedy usually fall short (see: Your Highness), yet Honor Among Thieves manages to make it look easy. Writers/Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein might be the most slept on duo in the game right now. Their last two at bats in Game Night and Honor Among Thieves have managed to blend comedy with genres that don’t easily lend themselves to humor.

Like Game Night, Honor Among Thieves boasts some incredibly inventive visuals. One standout sequence clearly cribs from Portal, with Simon using a staff that creates, well, portals. I appreciated the use of practical sets and animatronics, making the world feel more tactile and believable.

As a movie, it’s a non stop delight. As an adaptation, it achieves exactly what it sets out to do. My bud Keegs pointed out the various references, creatures, and the way it perfectly captured the spirit of D&D once we wrapped the movie. I’ve only played one short campaign in my life (I dug it! Wish I had folks to play with regularly), but even with that brief experience I could tell the movie feels like a D&D campaign brought to cinematic life. The love Daley and Goldstein have for D&D bleeds out in every single frame. The movie makes you want to grab some dice, build a character, and set out on an adventure.

If you checked out on this one because you don’t know nothing bout no D&D, I implore you to give a go. It’s easily the funniest, most inventive fantasy film to come along in years and it’s a damn shame we, as an audience, did this movie so dirty.

Dungeons and Dragons is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Paramount Plus, and available for purchase and rental. Watch it. Like seriously, b. Watch it.