Previous movies in the franchise (who knew there was more than one other?) bombed hard, but this reboot fares a lot better among critics and general audiences. It's worth noting that a tabletop role-playing game makes for a much more flexible source material than a video game -- no preestablished heroes, for one thing. To my mind going in, it was quite a gamble.
In a high fantasy setting, bard-cum-rogue Edgin (Chris Pine) and his barbarian partner in crime, Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), escape from prison two years after their arrest for helping to steal the fabled Tablet of Reawakening, hoping to revive Edgin's wife (Georgia Landers). They discover that Forge (Hugh Grant), a comrade to whom Edgin had entrusted both the tablet and care of his 12-to-14-year-old daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman), has betrayed them and convinced Kira that they abandoned her. They reunite with unconfident young sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith), who in turn recommends recruiting his unrequited crush, shapeshifting Doric (Sophia Lillis), to steal the tablet again, with temporary aid from obnoxiously awesome yet stuffy paladin Xenk (Regé-Jean Page). This will not be as easy as before, given Forge's defensive measures, not least Red Wizard Sofina (Daisy Head), who has a darker scheme cooking.
The movie does not presuppose familiarity with the game. Newcomers might be thrown a bit by specific jargon like "tiefling," but all you really have to know is that it's a typical loose take on medieval Europe with magic. OK, very loose, what with the accents, a hot air balloon, and quite a few part-Black actors. The presentation feels no more organic than in the Pirates of the Caribbean series.
Edgin is a big part of the appeal here. He's always coming up with ideas and doesn't let their low chance of success get him down. He used to belong to a virtuous order, and even after greed drove him away, he kept some steadfast principles to avoid being a worse thief. It's unusual how he accepts Holga as a sort of co-parent to Kira despite no romantic interest between them. Eventually, he grows as a person. And yeah, Pine plays him well for fun.
Forge also contributes in a strong way. Grant must love con man roles. He lies with charm like there's nothing to it. His family-splitting adoption/abduction of Kira reminds me of The Mask of Zorro, except she's too old for him to deny her heritage. He does apparently grow fond of her, tho wealth and power are still his top two passions.
The rest of the cast is relatively cookie-cutter, but that's OK; the ragtag posse still manages banter good enough for a James Gunn piece, PG-13 language notwithstanding. Just as importantly, the action sequences are frequently enjoyable, whether for semi-innovative coolness with decent Hollywood effects or the sort of goofy antics one might associate with Robert Zemeckis.
I for one don't mind the 134-minute length, but I can't help thinking it would have been better with a bit more cutting. The first scene in particular spends too much time on a character we never see again, and it's unnecessary for any kind of development. At best, it showcases some of the nonhuman races, who rarely make a difference to the plot.
DnD:HAT may be seen as "soulless," but it's not brainless or heartless. It does better than I ever expected. If you're up for audiovisual junk food, you may want to check it out.
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