Review: 'Dungeons & Dragons' movie reboot gives off the right kind of wacky energy

The folks behind the fantasy action comedy “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” made one exceedingly smart decision early on: They hired a couple of comedy guys to direct the movie. It’s a decision that pays handsome dividends throughout this fun, engaging movie.

Those directors are Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who previously collaborated on the bitingly funny “Game Night.” In turning the Hasbro-owned role-playing game into a movie — and not mucking it up, as happened famously with the 2000 movie with Jeremy Irons — Goldstein and Daley, with co-writer Michael Gilio, realize that to make this work, they can’t take much of it seriously.

That’s why the emphasis is on the comical pairing of two veteran thieves: The garrulous, lute-playing Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine) and the hard-bitten Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), who lead a group of thieves on a series of capers — until they get caught in a trap, and are sent to the kingdom’s prison. Edgin is also a bard, so talking their way out of prison is part of the game.

Back in the kingdom, Edgin and Holga discover that one of their criminal cohort, the conman Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), is now set himself up as a lord. What’s more, he’s become the guardian of Elgin’s daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman), and turned her against her dad. Oh, and there’s the extra bit where Forge has made an alliance with Sofina (Daisy Head), without knowing that she’s a Red Wizard, using her magic to her own nasty ends.

To rescue Kira, thwart Forge and stop Sofina from destroying the world, Elgin and Holga need a team. They find Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), a sorcerer with a self-confidence problem; Doric (Sophia Lillis), a druid who can change into animals; and Xenk Yendar (Regé-Jean Page), a paladin who’s fighting prowess is matched only by his chivalrous seriousness.

Even if you’ve never rolled a 20-sided die in your life, there’s plenty to connect with in this movie — mostly because the cast is so sharp. Pine is a dashing hero, and even better when he’s playing a somewhat jaded one. Rodriguez shows a comic side not employed much in the “Fast & Furious” franchise (there’s a bit with a secret cameo that’s hilarious). And Grant plays the cad better than anybody.

Goldstein and Daley keep the jokes and the action running in tandem, and add just enough emotional weight — like Edgin’s concern for his daughter — to make it all not seem too frivolous. They also pull enough from the game that D&D players will have a ball collecting all the Easter eggs. 

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” manages the neat trick of taking a property that has been hard to transfer to movies and finding the humor and heart in it. I’m actually looking forward to the franchise possibilities.

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‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’

★★★1/2

Opens Friday, March 31, at theaters everywhere. Rated PG-13 for fantasy action/violence and some language. Running time: 134 minutes.