Fishing rod simon the sorcerer 25/6/2023 ![]() ![]() There are other moments, not just of the action variety, that also achieve this balance of ludicrous and real. Directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley lean hard into the sequence’s shape-shifting absurdities without ever letting up on the gas pedal, effectively keeping you on the edge of your seat while still grounding the set piece in the simple tension of a chase. The escape from the palace isn’t the only action set piece the film has going for it, but it might be its best. To beat Forge, save Kira, and find the tablet, they’ll need some help. But Kira can’t forgive her father’s absence so easily, and Forge’s shady partnership with a red wizard (Daisy Head) proves dastardly. The first part of that equation comes quite easily, as Kira is now under the care of their former partner-turned-lord Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant). The mission is clear – find Edgin’s daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) and find the resurrection tablet that will bring his long gone wife back from the dead. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” begins with partners in crime Edgin and Holga breaking out of prison after a years-long stint for thievery. ![]() The film is at its best when it’s not working overtime to undercut its action, fantastical absurdity, or emotional core with quippy one-liners or a wink at the camera. But as much as they might try, the cast of “Dungeons & Dragons” doesn’t fully have the uncanny comic ability of the Monty Python troupe to ride a bit past its logical conclusion. That’s what kept prickling under my skin as I watched “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” For me – someone who admittedly has never played Dungeons & Dragons – the movie was entertaining enough, with a few great set pieces, charming actors, and humor reminiscent of Monty Python – that is, if Monty Python had a budget of upwards of $150 million. This time, it sucks all the life out of the film completely. The bit, involving Doric’s transformation into a deer, wasn’t all that funny the first time. But while we’re still riding on the highs of Doric’s escape, the film reintroduces a bit from before the sequence began. When Doric finally makes it out, she meets back up with her team – Edgin (Chris Pine), a barbarian named Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), and a sorcerer named Simon (Justice Smith). The filmmaking is slick and fast-paced as Doric changes from fly, to mouse, to human, to deer, and so on, every transition seamless and the structure of the chase permeated with equal parts humor and tension. ![]() Soldiers hot on her heels, she skids through castle halls and outside into the city streets, shapeshifting into whatever animal fits her needs at any given moment. In the middle of “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” there’s an action sequence that embodies everything I’m looking for from a fantastical action comedy of this ilk.ĭoric (Sophia Lillis), a tiefling druid (for those not well-versed in Dungeons & Dragons speak, a tiefling is a humanoid creature, while druids can change into different animals) attempts a daring escape from a palace. Background left to right, Michelle Rodriguez, Chris Pine, Justice Smith, and Sophia Lillis in “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” (Paramount Pictures via The Associated Press) ![]()
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