Dungeons and Dragons is a game that has been around for decades, it was created in 1974, and it is more than your average game. It has campaigns, and the characters a person uses can continue through campaigns, and the more one plays, the more the characters level up, and the more complex campaigns they can engage in. One of the best parts of the game, is that it is still a game of chance. A person can be a high level, but if they through the D20 poorly, then they can still lose. If you have ever played or listened to someone else play on a podcast, then you know how complex of a game it can be. So to make a movie based off it is an interesting idea, but also a hard concept to really tie back to the game, because there are so many different campaigns that one could do.
The story starts out with Edgin and Holga in prison, because they tried to do a heist with Forge and Sofina to get a special tablet that has the power to bring back someone from the dead. Edgin was going to use it to bring Kira’s mother back, because she never got the chance to meet her, and it was Edgin’s wife, but Sofina, the witch, cast a spell that paused everyone, so only her and Forge were able to get away. This left Edgin and Holga behind to get arrested, and Forge and Sofina took Edgin’s daughter, Kira.
When Edgin and Holga escape from prison, they go to find Forge and Kira, and as it turns out, Forge has become the Lord of a castle, and he has become very rich, but Edgin quickly finds out that Forge was the not the friend he thought he had, because Froge tries to kill him, and he lied to Kira about Edgin. So Edgin and Holga must go on an adventure, so that they can get an old magically helmet to help them break into the castle get some treasure and get Kira to start a new life. So the journey begins.
One of the biggest drop offs comparing the movie to the game is that there is the lack of chance element. There are no dice being rolled, and it is a movie, so you just assume that everything is going to be okay in the end. Also for those less initiated to the whole universe like I am, I did not quite know what each character was supposed to be, they could have beat you a little over the head with information like that, like saying that Chris Pine was a bard, and that Michelle Rodriguez was a barbarian. There was also a magician, and I know that they have a more specific name in the game, so if they gave their characters their specific categorical names, and they explained what special abilities they had, and related it more to the game, then I think it would have made it a more game friendly movie.
The movie itself was okay. It definitely had some laughs, but there were not enough to keep you entertained throughout. The action and plot were also okay. There was a lot of CGI, and it was not the best, and when I say that there was a lot of CGI, I mean that it was mostly CGI, and that means that a lot of the movie does not look the best. On the bright side, it does not take itself too seriously, which is its biggest strength. At times it is very easy to zone out of the movie, but then there will be a good laugh, and it will bring you back into it.
This movie did have some fun parts. Number on the fun meter would be the fat dragon! The group goes down into this underworld place to retrieve the magical helmet, and once they have it, they must fend off a small army of warriors trying to take it from them, but as they are trying to escape, they awaken a great beast, that is obese. Out plops the roundest dragon anyone will ever see, and it is great to see it slide down a slope with its massive stomach protruding. Just totally ridiculous.
Next there is the labyrinth scene. I am a total sucker for a good maze. So the group was trying to complete their heist on the castle, but they get caught, and they are forced into a labyrinth that has threats coming from all around, the biggest threat are these two black panthers, not from the party, that have these two tentacle like things coming out of their side that can project the image of their body in a different spot, so that they can sneak attack their victim, and they get to eat a few people. Plus there is a treasure chest that comes alive and tries to eat people as well. It is not as good as the Harry Potter labyrinth from the Goblet of Fire by any means, but it is still fun, and they come up with a unique way to get out of it.
One of the comparisons I have heard for this movie is Monty Python. To some extent I can see that. It does not take itself seriously, and they are going on a journey, but beyond that, I do not feel like they are very similar. The CGI in Dungeons and Dragons is beyond prevalent, and Monty Python could not be more in the other direction. They literally use coconuts instead of horses, less was always more. Does this movie have charm? Sure, but it is not enough to compensate for the lack luster plot and everything else that was just mediocre.
So can I really give it a recommendation, no, but if this is something you are into, then you still might enjoy it. Also this is the rare time, where I think I would recommend seeing it in 4DX. I paid the extra money to see it in IMAX, because the time worked out better, but that was unnecessary, but there are many times in the movie, where it seemed like they were making it for 4DX, there was a lot of smoke and noises, and hot breath from a fat dragon, that would have been cool to have the real world feel of in the 4DX theater, which I probably will never say again, but this movie definitely needed some added boost to help lift it up. I gave it 2.5 Stars, which might be a little high… maybe more of a 2.
If you are looking for something a little more fun, and actually good, I would suggest Rye Lane. It just came out onto Hulu, and it is a modern rom-com, but the thing that separates this rom-com from others in recent years, is that this rom-com is really good! It is quick, less than 90 minutes, and it looks great. It takes place in London, and it tells the story of a guy and a girl, who are both fresh out of relationships, but they immediately have chemistry, and they really do shine on the screen. The movie was quite funny and endearing. I highly recommend watching it. I gave it 4 Stars!
Or you can watch everyone’s favorite star couple Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston star in their sequel, Murder Mystery 2. It is not a good movie, let me lead with that, but it is basically the perfect Netflix movie to throw on the tv on a Friday night. It is simple, they film it at location, and sometimes it might make you laugh. It is a whimsical 90 minutes about a detective couple failing upward. Despite most of the movie being below average, Sandler and Anniston are stars, and they are the only real bright spot in this movie. I think I would have preferred another Grown Ups movie. If I am getting Sandler, I either want him with his posse or being a scum bag like in Uncut Gems. 2 Stars for this one.
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