The new trailer for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves may look like it's making fun of Dungeons & Dragons, but is celebrating it. The new D&D: Honor Among Thieves trailer doesn't offer much plot information but does highlight the cast's comedy talents. Some people have criticized the slapstick humor and said the fantasy action film is trying too hard to be an MCU film. However, MCU films have historically been able to blend comedy and action, not to mention their ability to bring audiences into the theater. Since D&D: Honor Among Thieves looks to be jump-starting a D&D film franchise, the MCU comparisons actually work in the films' favor.

While the first D&D: Honor Among Thieves trailer introduced the plot, it was more focused on depicting the fun fantasy action than the chemistry of the talented cast led by Chris Pine. Additionally, the new trailer showcased Hugh Grant, playing against character type as a villainous Rogue who has captured Chris Pines' Edgin the Bard. Hugh Grant plays into his comedic strengths as he jokes "I don't want to see you die, so I'm going to leave the room." Throughout the new trailer, the cast playfully bounces one-liners and quips that clarify the lighthearted tone of the film.

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Honor Among Thieves Isn't Mocking Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons- Honor Among Thieves Chris Pine Michelle Rodriguez and Justice Smith

The slapstick humor and gags might be interpreted as mocking D&D, but this isn't the case. The tone reflects how real D&D campaigns typically go. There is always one guy that has to set off the trap or giggle because "office" sounds rude. Since Dungeons & Dragons parties usually consist of a group of friends, the tone of the games is usually lighthearted, after all, it is a game and people play it for fun. While D&D games do require strategy and planning, often times it does get sidetracked by dumb decisions or someone who wants to spice things up, much to the Dungeon Master's dismay.

Popular D&D spin-offs, such as Amazon's The Legend of Vox Machina employ humor, even when the story gets dark. The Legend of Vox Machina's signature humor comes from the natural gameplay of the web series Critical Role. A huge part of The Legend of Vox Machina's popularity is the humor and chemistry between the characters that weren't originally scripted. Since part of the appeal of the TTRPG Dungeons & Dragons is the fun times with friends, it would seem pretty silly to try to make a D&D adaptation without humor.

A Serious D&D Movie Wouldn't Have Worked

Chris Pine and his co-stars surrounded by boisterous fans in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

In today's fantasy climate with Games of Thrones and Lord of the Rings, the standards for prestige fantasy is much higher than ever before. However, with its tabletop history, Dungeons and Dragons does not fit into the same type of fantasy drama. Games of Thrones and Lords of the Rings are based on novels that have rich backstories and impressive world-building. D&D campaigns are generally about the players and their characters, not necessarily world-building. While D&D uses pre-made stories and relies on player decisions to move the game along, people's flawed decisions do not always coincide with the Dungeon Masters' intentions.

Due to the unpredictable nature of D&D campaigns, the use of humor is important to balance some of the darker elements of gameplay. While the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves trailer is full of humor, there are serious stakes and dangerous situations that Edgin and his gang must overcome. Audiences will have to wait for the March release date to see whether Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves can effectively balance the jokes with the darker subjects, but Dungeons & Dragons will always be a game that is kept interesting through the quips of its players.

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