Paramount Pictures’ “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is a fun movie because it succeeds in making the extensive game world of the same name accessible to D&D fans and those unfamiliar with the game.

A commendable cast

The film’s cast is packed with great actors and scene-stealers at every turn. There are even cameos from big-name celebrities who steal the show in one scene, providing a fun surprise for the movie.

Chris Pine leads the cast as Edgin Darvis, the “bard” of the group. As a veteran actor, Pine lends his natural charisma to every scene which helps ground the film during the increasingly complicated heists.

The cast’s chemistry is great, but the best pair is between Pine’s Darvis and Michelle Rodriguez’s Holga Kilgore character. Kilgore is the “barbarian” of the group who is imprisoned along with Edgin after a heist gone wrong.

Regé-Jean Page also steals the show as “paladin” Xenk Yendar. Though Page has a relatively small role, his dedication to the character makes Yendar one of my favorites in the film.

Justice Smith plays the “sorcerer” Simon Aumar. Like Pine, Smith has experience with these types of movies, and his Aumar is a source of warmth for the film as he struggles with self-confidence and working with his shapeshifting Tiefling ex, played by Sophia Lillis.

There’s always a place for the hammy villain in genre films, and Hugh Grant eats it up with no stage being too grand for his machinations (although one is too high).

A script that doesn’t take itself too seriously

The other reason why “Dungeons & Dragons” succeeds is because of the script. Too often, we’ve seen adaptations of big franchises that are entirely too serious. “Dungeons & Dragons” is self-aware, with jokes about backstories and how magic is not a catch-all for everything.

The humor in “Dungeons & Dragons” is never forced and nearly always hits. There’s one scene involving an illusion gone wrong that had me dying from laughter. The rivalry between Darvis and Yendar was also a source of much of the humor.

The writers for this film, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, have a proficient resume with “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Game Night.” With that experience, they know how to play to the stars’ strengths, so their writing allows Pine and Page’s strongest qualities shine within their characters.

Even though it is a comedy, “Dungeons & Dragons” doesn’t shy away from the drama at its core. Darvis’ backstory shows his regret for not being there for his daughter, Kira, played by Chloe Coleman.

The script also makes good use of the Chekhov’s gun writing technique. Chekhov’s gun refers to the fact that everything in the script has a purpose, so Seemingly random lines or one-use elements come back later in the film in important ways.

Coleman’s character is also more important to the plot than a damsel in distress who needs to be rescued. That kind of character usually just has a few lines at the end, but Coleman actually plays an integral role in defeating the mad Red Wizard Sofina.

Overall, “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” with its star power and smart script, accomplishes that most elusive feat of gaming adaptations: reaching an audience beyond that of the original medium.

Check out more movie review by contributor Tyler D’Errico:

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