Irony is a Blade That Cuts He Who Wields It Most Especially. 4 / 5
Directed by John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein
A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic.
I was initially sceptical of Dungeons & Dragons as someone who has never played a game or delved too deep into that world - but when I saw that Game Night's writer/director pair John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein were at the helm, it had my attention.
A sharply hilarious script paves the way for an immersive and inventive fantasy adventure that makes the most of every moment. Full-on blockbuster level fantasy is a rarity, so seeing it on the big screen with this much care and attention was a real treat. It captures this approachable communal feeling with a laid back attitude that treats even the most absurd concepts as if it’s the most normal thing in the world - balancing the weird and wonderful expertly.
The cast look like they are having a blast with Chris Pine and his effortless charm and charisma leading the way for barbarians, shapeshifting druids, sorcerers, wizards and other fantastical delights. The plot hits almost every generic story beat you'd expect from a hero's journey but the journey itself is so much fun and packed full of visual treats that it's hard to complain.
I'm sure a thousand references flew over my head, but the film is carefully crafted to appeal to die-hard D&D fans and fantasy newbies, so I still had a great time. I can confirm though there were both dungeons and indeed dragons so it ticked all the necessary boxes for me.
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