With recent reports out of Hollywood, studios may very well have run out of ideas. True, real films don’t come from producers but from writers and directors with actual vision that get snatched up from festivals and the like. But the news of Disney remaking Moana in live action after only seven years and WB reimagining Harry Potter as a streaming series has me reeling. Can recycling intellectual property continue to work? Like a reliable pair of pants, only so many washes can be done before they pill and fray. It is only a matter of time before product itself becomes viewing content. Well, with the Barbie movie trailer dropped, that is no longer out of the realm of possibility. The LEGO Movie was released to wide acclaim; life is truly plastic, it’s fantastic. And we have only seen the beginning of it.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves comes to us from the minds behind 2018’s sleeper comedy Game Night. So, we are much better hands than the Hasbro producing credit may indicate. The tabletop, role-playing game has gained resurgence with the advent of Stranger Things and the notoriety of celebrities claiming to be fans. Plus, with the widespread interest in fantasy, this only feels enviable. Gladly, all involved have injected the story with such tongue-in-cheek humor to keep us all invested in these quirky characters. Chris Pine, gunning for the top spot in the Hollywood Chris’ lineup, leads our intrepid team alongside action mainstay Michelle Rodriguez. They are brilliant foils to one another, complementing each other’s acting styles and line delivery with such wit. One wonders why they haven’t been teamed up before. In the very beginning we are dropped into their predicament and, in joking flashback, fleshed out how they got here.
All necessary info and characters are established including our villains, just giving us time to take in the world they inhabit. Over twenty years have gone by since the original slog of a D&D film, but Paramount learned the lesson. Give us a story that is exciting with engaging characters and you have a movie. Rounding out the cast is Hugh Grant, who has been on a hot streak of madcap supporting roles of late. Also in tow is Justice Smith, fresh off the thriller Sharper. Apologies must be given to Rege-Jean Page for all I badmouthed him for Bridgerton; he steals the show here.
I will not get into the major plot points as not to spoil anything. Suffice it to say, please go out the theater to see this movie. Game lore is tossed out to a minimum for fans but the real draw is the hilarious script and more than capable cast.
Over on Apple TV+, we have a different product story. Tetris illustrates the story about how the game came to the West from the Soviet Union. Taron Egerton plays Henk Rodgers, a computer programmer and games distributor looking to get the rights to sell the game in Japan. We are introduced to his business which he runs with his wife Akemi. His home life is a bit chaotic, juggling kids and the job alongside her. But on a chance encounter at a Vegas convention, he can’t get this block game out of his head.
However, securing the rights proves hazardous as he goes so far as to court Soviet bureaucrats in their own country. Knowing his business is on the line, he plays KGB operatives as well as the media tycoon Robert Maxwell (yes, that Robert Maxwell) in order to gain favor. A fascinating tale to say the least, it is easy to see why this is on a streaming service instead of in theaters. It is intriguing as a made for TV movie, which is not bad at all. Certainly worth the time, whichever you choose to view.
