Directed and co-written by John Francis Daley (Game Night (2018); Vacation (2015)) and Jonathan Goldstein (Game Night (2018); Vacation (2015)) and starring Chris Pine (Star Trek (2009); Into the Woods (2014); Wonder Woman (2017)), Michelle Rodriguez (Fast & Furious (2009); Avatar (2009); The Assignment (2016); Lost (TV series, 2005-2010)), Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton (TV series, 2020); The Merchant of Venice (2016); The Gray Man (2022)), Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal (TV series, 2018); Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994); Florence Foster Jenkins (2016); Glass Onion (2020)), Sophia Lillis (It (2017); Gretel & Hansel (2020); Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019)) and Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Dominion (2022); All the Bright Places (2020)).
Action Adventure: 134 mins: 12+
This stand-alone film does not require any prior knowledge of the role-playing game/world of the same name: here, it is set in a land and time which is quasi England in the Middle Ages, part Lord of the Rings and part Star Wars with a number of strange-looking creatures.
The opening act sets the scene, in that Edgin (Chris Pine) used to be a brave and noble do-gooder until he was tempted by fate and became a Robin Hood-type of character. His wife dies and he sets out on a quest to find a tablet that will bring her back to life. He is joined by a motley crew including Holga (Michelle Rodriguez; a warrior), Doric (Sophia Lillis; a shape-shifter) and Simon (Justice Smith; a sorcerer). They team up with scoundrel Forge (Hugh Grant) who double-crosses them and Edgin and Holga are then incarcerated in a prison tower in a frozen land. Eventually they escape, with revenge on their mind and still driven to locate the tablet which he believes will return them to happier times.
Along the way the team combine their strengths and encounter a series of other characters including Xenk (Regé-Jean Page) and Sofina, an evil sorceress... They must use their cunning and guise, as well as stealth and brute force, to navigate the challenges blocking their path. While there are no magic potions as such, there is plenty of sorcery and trickery, with items to collect along the way, with some chests offering treasures and weapons, while others have dangers lurking behind...
An adventure romp that is comical in parts and plenty of banter with some, almost slapstick, scenes interspersed with others with the protagonists facing almost insurmountable challenges and seemingly inevitable death, only for one of the band to "pull a rabbit out of a hat" and a number of "Easter eggs" waiting to be discovered by faithful - probably only on a second or third viewing, though. Good action sequences and wonderful visual effects, but... the storyline is utterly predictable and is at risk of actually becoming boring at times, with the audience wanting to click on fast-forward to get to the next scene...
Currently being screened in Luxembourg at Kinepolis.
