Lighthearted tone keeps ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ bouncing

With only casual knowledge of the tabletop role-playing game, consider my review of “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” to be that of a Bard or Cleric-Druid.

Note: I just googled “low level DnD player rankings and those are the names that came up in the first result. Apologies to the gamers out there.

The world of “Dungeons & Dragons” can be a busy one… magic, monsters, potions, spells and even a dangerous gelatinous cube or two. That universe makes for an infinite amount of gaming scenarios, but it can also make a live-action film adaptation incredibly difficult. Clog the narrative with too many elements, and the result can be disastrous — consider the snoozy attempt in 2000 starring Jeremy Irons and Marlon Wayans.

“Honor Among Thieves” avoids the traps of that previous installment by injecting sharp wit, likeable characters and an overall fun energy that buoys the narrative. It’s a funny movie that nods to the weirder elements of the game without disparaging them. Directors/co-writers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley effectively manifest comic situations out of story and character interactions in ways that made their previous directing effort, 2018’s “Game Night,” work so well.

“Honor Among Thieves” sets itself up for success by casting Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez in the lead roles. The sardonic energy Pine brought to Captain Kirk in the recent “Star Trek” films carries over to this wizarding world, allowing his Bard character (Edgin Darvis) to breeze through complex plot exposition with room for good humor and a genuine dash of emotion (the movie focuses on Edgin’s quest to reconcile with his daughter following a treasure heist gone wrong).

Rodriguez, no stranger to playing rough-and-tumble, is also utilized well as Holga Kilgore, a warrior with a soft spot for Edgin’s daughter. While Edgin can shred all day on the lute, Holga shred can shred down all the beastly foes that stand in the way of pair’s ultimate quest. Holga also gets an amusing romantic subplot that culminates with a memorable, pint-sized cameo.

Two other magic-gifted creatures complete the team — Justice Smith plays a half-elf sorcerer with considerable self-esteem issues, and Sophia Lillis completes the squad as shape-shifting elf Doric. “Bridgerton” breakout Regé-Jean Page also provides the team with occasional assistance as a humorless (and therefore very funny) knight named Xenk Yendar.

“Honor Among Thieves” gets a little busy in the middle act with various side quests and CGI-infused confrontations (though the “chubby” dragon sequence stands apart). The story works better when focused on the primary mission: Recover Edgin’s daughter from former teammate-turned-obnoxious ruler Forge Fitzwilliam, played with hilarious smarm by Hugh Grant. The true danger is Forge’s unlikely ally, Sofina (Daisy Head), an evil wizard bent on brutality and world domination.

The film climaxes with a gauntlet of challenges and beasts likely considered to be favorites of the RPG’s biggest fans. Even without knowledge of the Easter eggs, Pine and the cast keep the proceedings fun and energetic. And look, who doesn’t love a good, flesh-eating gelatinous cube?

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Tyler Wilson is a member of the International Press Academy and has been writing about movies for Inland Northwest publications since 2000, including a regular column in The Press since 2006. He can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.