Dungeons and Dragons film review

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DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS

Courtney Solomon's live-action fantasy is based on the popular role-playing game of the 1980s.

The setting is the kingdom of Izmer, where young Empress Savina (Birch) plans to give power back to the common people, at the expense of the powerful Mages. Her plans cause celebrations in the streets, but consternation in the palace, where a two-faced Mage called Profion (Irons) plots to usurp her from the throne.

He despatches his hulking henchman Damodar (Payne) to locate the fabled Dragon's Eye gem which gives the owner total control of an army of red dragons. Wise to her nemesis's plans, Savina enlists the help of thieves Ridley (Whalin) and Snails (Wayans) to beat Damodar to the prize. All manner of traps and surprises lie in wait for our intrepid adventurers. And they must succeed: the future of Izmer is as stake.

Sadly, performances from the leads are appalling. Whalin and Wayans are horribly miscast, the latter scrounging for laughs by walking into the nearest inanimate object.

Irons thunders and blusters, delivering all of his lines at top volume. It's a miracle Profion manages to keep his underhand scheme a secret. The people of Izmer must be as disinterested in what's going on as we are.

Conversely, Birch can barely manage a flicker of emotion, drowning beneath an excessive golden head-dress.Computer-generated special effects are kept to a minimum until the final 10 minutes when the hard drives whirr into action, conjuring up dozens of dragons for a spectacular aerial duel.

The pleasure of role-playing games is becoming caught up in the action. Dungeons & Dragons the movie, with its linear plot and meagre characterisation, offers no such vicarious thrills.