Finally, finally a movie based on a giant franchise that clearly was made by people who know, understand, love and respect the source material. And who know how to gently poke fun at it.
Every single spell, monster and artifact seen on screen is canon material.
Whenever something goes awry, the undertone is that a character just botched their stat check, resulting in frantic attempts at rectifying the situation. The dialogue is EXACTLY like the dialogue around any given gaming table, a lot of quips and off-color jokes.
Hell, the paladin actually is the DM PC, serving to point the unfocused and chaotic party in the right direction and even provides a typical DM ass pull when progress stalls thanks to the actions of an idiot party member
The move actually kicks off with the two main characters pulling off a convoluted plan of escape only players could think of that was completely unnecessary and which put paid to the DM‘s plans. As it ALWAYS happens.
The big bad‘s boss is the one and only Zulkir Szass Tam, the undead head of the Red Wizards of Thay. Yes, I had a nerdgasm when the name was dropped
I won‘t spoil the story, it is more or less generic, but presented well enough to not distract.
Don‘t fret about the creators' statement about emasculating the male roles to elevate the female roles. It simply means the male protagonists actually have character development, and no female protagonist is simply there to put every male in a ten-mile radius in his place.
Chris Pine is the quintessential bard (no spells, for whatever reason). One of the (botched) distractions he and the party‘s sorcerer provide in the latter third had me screaming with laughter.
He forms a beleievable and wholesome platonic best friends couple with Michelle Rodriguez who puts on a believable and funny barbarian/fighter. Those two carry much of the movie. Their other two party members are less fleshed out but don‘t detract from having good time.
A lot of the special effects are practical, which gives the movie a bit more depth and, well, believability.
Hugh Grant plays a rogue who is former party member and secondary big bad. The character is so slimy and smarmy and the actor obviously had so much fun playing the part that it is a joy to behold.
As you may glean from my excited, disjointed ramblings, the movie is a simply two-plus hours of great fun. No Oscar material, just fun. It works best with at least a bit of knowledge about D&D, but I have been told that it works even for non-initiates.
Five out of five Natural 20s, will definitely watch again and buy the BluRay.
PS: When the chonky dragon had his entrance, one in the auditorium actually shouted (in English, too!) "O LAWD, he comin'!" That was the other "screaming with laughter" moment for me
