Dungeons & Dragons is derivative. Its predictable script has obvious exposition, inconsistent motivations, coincidences, McGuffins, blunt metaphors, incompetent threats, flimsy lore, shallow arcs, flat relationships, trope characters, artificial drama, and spotty humor. Some jokes are clever, the actors embrace the tone, there's adequate setup, and the quest structure is fitting, yet that all rings hollow due to fad formulas and try-hard attempts to be funny. Mocking cliches that are actively used and unenthused vulnerability feels insincere. Thus, the film is tensionless, self-conscious, and farcical. The comedy and fantasy make it reasonable, but it loses steam whenever connection matters.
Technically, Dungeons & Dragons is lukewarm. Its mostly recognizable cast is thin on genuine star power. The worldbuilding production design is surprisingly superficial, generic, and sterile. Its abundant effects use practicals, but the overreliance on CGI is distracting. The sound adds fantasy, muffling, stings, split cuts, and combat, yet never serves emotional purposes. Its music is appropriate, but common and unimpactful. The editing utilizes flashback montages, inserts, smash cuts, match dissolves, cross cuts, and action, yet its pacing is clunky. Overall, Dungeons & Dragons has undermined drama, mediocre battles, and routine filmmaking. It's passable but has nothing of its own.
Writing: 5/10
Direction: 5/10
Cinematography: 5/10
Acting: 5/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10
Production Design: 7/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 6/10
Overall Score: 5.9/10
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