Dungeons & Dragons is, by its very nature, undefinable. The world's most popular tabletop roleplaying game is a sandbox built on a never-ending pile of options, an opportunity for creative gamers to immerse themselves in fantasy fiction and tell a story together. There is no defined tone, no set-in-stone canon, no rules beyond the mechanics that allow a roll of the dice to determine disaster or triumph. There is no right way to play Dungeons & Dragons. Every group will be different. Every dungeon master will craft a tone unique to their table.

"Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein probably run one hell of a D&D session. Their interpretation of the game's infinite pool of fantastical options and monsters and adventures is powered by humor and heart, a take that is more "Princess Bride" with big action than grim 'n' gritty dark fantasy. It can't help but feel like a specific take torn straight from someone's table — even if the movie doesn't feel like your Dungeons & Dragons, it feels vividly like someone's Dungeons & Dragons. If the original game is an engine designed to be powered by the specific imaginations of its players, the new film feels like two talented filmmakers were allowed to go nuts and craft a fantasy adventure honed to reflect their very specific senses of humor and character. And there is nothing more D&D than that.

A Party Worth Joining

In 2018's "Game Night," Daley and Goldstein showed a surprising adeptness for action in the middle of a tight comedy farce. And in "Honor Among Thieves," they showcase an unsurprising (but no less pleasurable) affinity for character comedy in the midst of an action fantasy tale. Those characters are thieves, led by Chris Pine's Edgin, a charming rogue (excuse me, bard) with a second, third, and fourth plan up his sleeve and just as many quips lying in reserve. When we first meet him, he's serving a prison sentence with Holga (a perfectly utilized Michelle Rodriguez), a hard-hitting warrior whose BFF energy with Pine is the unlikely casting coup of the year. It's not long before the two of them are on a new quest, uniting with old friends (a winning Justice Smith as the sorcerer Simon) and new allies (Sophia Lillis' adorably earnest shapeshifter Doric) to take down a sleazy former compatriot who went and made it all personal (Hugh Grant in full "Paddington 2" mode).

Along the way, they encounter dungeons, dragons, an evil plot that transcends their initial plan for petty profit, and a paladin named Xenk, who may be the funniest character in a movie full of funny characters (Regé-Jean Page pulls it off by playing the character as earnestly as possible, deadpanning his way through material that could've flattened a less charismatic actor). Will this cast of bumbling heroes have to step it up to save the land? Of course. We knew that was coming. What we didn't know was how funny and sharp and earnest the whole thing would be.

Honest Fantasy

There's an irritating trend in so much modern blockbuster cinema: movie studios and filmmakers are happy to adapt "nerd" properties, but they feel ashamed of them. Their characters act embarrassed by their outrageousness, the script apologizes for silly character names, and there's a deflating sense of apology woven into the text, like everyone involved thinks this is Actually Stupid and wants you to know it.

That's not the case with "Honor Among Thieves," a movie whose heart hangs from its sleeve from moment one and never lets go. The script (from Daley, Goldstein, and Michael Gilio) puts character first, serving up a likable ensemble of flawed, funny folks who stumble through their adventures in winning fashion. It's textbook set-up and payoff, with every disparate element coming together in often unexpected ways. No winks, no self-effacing jokes: just a fantasy story told well.

That's not to say the film isn't playful. Every character is hilarious (Pine's sarcastic-but-wounded lead is perhaps the most Chris Pine a Chris Pine performance has been in a long time), but the humor derives purely from character. A subplot involving Rodriguez's long-lost love interest is the perfect example of the film's wry tone, treating an absurd situation with so much earnestness that it can't help but inspire giggles before it loops back around and wins you over again with the inherent drama of the situation. It's ridiculous. It's outrageous. But it matters to these characters and their world. You laugh with "Honor Among Thieves," never at it. It's a tightrope walk, and seeing Daley and Goldstein walk that line is a treat.

A Critical Hit

Naturally, like any major studio movie based on a well-known IP, the film is full of big action and big special effects, but the charm never dissipates. While the largest creatures are brought to life with CGI, anything on a human scale (from orcs to bird-people to humanoid cats) are practical effects that feel torn out of Jim Henson's "Labyrinth." And even the most extreme special effects can't help but surprise and delight, like a dragon that is … Well, it's not the kind of dragon you'd expect from a movie like this, and it's delightful.

If "Game Night" was two filmmakers proving they had serious chops by directing the hell out of what could've been a straightforward comedy, "Honor Among Thieves" is the same duo proving they can wring character and humor out of a fantasy adventure that could've knocked off Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" and called it a day. Instead, Daley and Goldstein have crafted a movie driven by character and wit, a fantasy adventure unashamed to be about how we define love and family. Sure, some may roll their eyes at this review referencing "The Princess Bride" a second time, but both films share an honesty that's all the more powerful because of their wry, character-driven humor.

Let's call "Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" what it is: a critical hit.

/Film Rating: 8.5 out of 10

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