Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)

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“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” delivers the kind of fun and funny, action/adventure that, hopefully, they don’t milk into a franchise.

Director(s)	John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Screenplay By	Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Michael Gilio
Based On	Story By Chris McKay, Michael Gilio
Date Released (In Theaters)	March 31, 2023
Genre(s)	Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Duration	2 Hours 14 Minutes
Content Rating	Rated PG-13
Noted Cast
Sofina	Daisy Head
Doric	Sophia Lillis
Xenk	Regé-Jean Page
Simon	Justice Smith
Forge	Hugh Grant
Holga	Michelle Rodriguez
Kira	Chloe Coleman
Ed	Chris Pine

This content contains pertinent spoilers. Also, images and text in this post may contain affiliate links which, if a purchase is made from those sites, we may earn money or products from the company.

Film Summary

At one time, Ed was a good guy. He was a Harpy, a spy who helped maintained order. But, like with most jobs that employ good people, it wasn’t the most lucrative. This was a problem for Ed since he had a wife and daughter to care for. Hence, when bringing in a criminal, known as a Red Wizard, he steals one of their treasures – not knowing they curse them to track down thieves.

Because they found the treasure in his home, Ed lost his wife, but luckily, his daughter Kira lived. But now, disenchanted by being a Harpy and suddenly a single father, Ed decided to forego being a Harpy, despite how it destroyed his family and dedicated himself to becoming a thief. Enter Holga, a strong woman who became Kira’s maternal figure. Add in Forge, a con man, and Simon, a novice wizard, and Ed had himself a team.

At least until Forge betrayed him, alongside Forge’s partner Sofina, thus leading to Simon abandoning everything and Holga and Ed in prison. But, being that Ed is resourceful, he plans to not only break out but figure a way to save his daughter and stop whatever Sofina is planning. Even if it means working with a Harpy like Xenk or Simon’s unrequited crush, Doric, a shapeshifter with no trust in humans.

Things To Note

• There is a mid-credit scene which handles an unresolved joke in the movie

Why Is “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” Rated PG-13

• Dialog: Minor cursing
• Violence: Multiple battle scenes, but no blood.
• Sexual Content: None
• Miscellaneous: In moments, necromancy is used where you’ll see a dead person’s eyeball hanging out, and see them cut in half, but it isn’t graphic. It’s like something you’d see out of a Halloween store. Also, there is drinking.

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.

Ed aka Edgin Darvis

Ed is a former Harpy, now the head of an unnamed group that focuses on stealing to survive. He doesn’t bring much to the group beyond coming up with plans, hyping people up so the plan can work (Simon especially), and playing an instrument.

Kira

Kira is Ed’s daughter, who is closer to Holga than she is her father, but she still loves him. It’s just their relationship is complicated by him focusing more on being a provider than her father.

Holga

Holga is a woman who was banished from her tribe for loving an outsider, and when that didn’t work well, she eventually became like a sister to Ed and a maternal figure to Kira. And for all of Kira’s life, Holga has been by Ed’s side through the glory days, imprisonment, and the entire journey within “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.”

Forge

Forge was part of Ed’s group and was quite known for his ego. Unfortunately, he doesn’t reveal until it is too late that, unlike the film title, he doesn’t believe in honor among thieves.

Simon

Simon is a sorcerer who has a notable lineage. But his lack of confidence shows in his magic, thus resulting in parlor tricks being of ease to him, but unless his life is threatened, he doesn’t show his true potential.

Xenk

Zenk is a renowned Harpy, who survived a Red Wizard attack that wiped out his family and people, that helps Ed with a quest.

Doric

Doric is a shapeshifter that Simon has a crush on, whose only interest is protecting the Emerald Clan, who live in the trees since they took her in when humans ostracized her.

Sofina

Sofina is part of the Red Wizards and acts as the villain of the film.

Review

Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)

Highlights

A True Adventure

While many superhero movies qualify as adventures, many of the places they go to don’t feel lived in. Everyone seems to be there because the hero is there or it’s needed for the film. You rarely get the sense that people have lives beyond waiting for the hero to make a spectacle. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is different.

We only see a handful of locations, but each one seems built for a larger purpose, and as we’re told of a sacred graveyard, see the kingdom Forge took over, and more, you get a sense of history. You get the feeling that there is more to this story that requires you to experience the source material to get the full details, and essentially, you are getting the Cliff Notes version.

An End Game You Can Invest In

The goal within “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is for Ed to save his daughter. It’s not about riches, a title, nothing that can feel superficial. He is a man who lost his daughter in the pursuit of providing for her or trying to, and now he wants to win her back, despite everything she has experienced and was told. It creates the kind of end-game goal you can latch to and even relate to. Especially since the whole team is on board, for they recognize how important the relationship is. Then when you add in, Holga and Forge both see the value in Kira looking up to them and considering them family? An additional weight is added.

Also, even though Chloe Coleman isn’t necessarily playing the biggest role in the film, it is enough for you to get why so many want to be a parental figure in her life, one way or another.

Everyone Gets A Moment To Shine

Of our heroes, no one feels like they are there simply because their name can put a butt in a seat. Yes, Michelle Rodriguez plays the same kind of character we’ve seen her play in damn near every film. But what can she say? She is good at playing someone with dry humor who kicks ass. However, the highlight isn’t her doing what is expected, but Holga dealing with her failed relationship or seeing a softer side when interacting with Kira that reminds you Rodriguez is at her best when she can be the badass who, at their core, is a softy.

As for everyone else? Their moment in the sun comes from either battle scenes like Xenk, Doric, and Simon have, or in the case of Ed and Forge, presenting the type of comical moments that allow “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” to be a little bit of everything. But, unlike other movies which do that and fail a bit trying to appease everyone, it figures a way to make it work without seeming desperate for approval.

On The Fence

The Lore Can Be Overwhelming

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” definitely honors those who have played the games and know the lore. However, if you aren’t heavily into D&D beyond what the film offers, it can be a bit confusing as different types of people, places, and more can feel name-dropped in a way to nod to those in the know. Like, there is a mention of “Baldur’s Gate,” amongst other places, which we don’t go to, but if you are familiar with the franchise, you know exists.

But, for anyone who doesn’t know little tidbits, you are left trying to grasp onto what is necessary to know, or good information, like what a Harpy is, what clan Doric is part of, what spell is Sofina trying to do, and etc.

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