Review of Knights of Badassdom (2014) by Chris G — 08 Mar 2015

"LARPing" - Live Action Role Playing is an obvious target for comedy, whether good-natured (as in Role Models) or mean-spirited, the idea of consenting adults enacting Dungeons & Dragons scenarios in full costume with foam rubber weaponry is rife for parody.

Here we have a fun idea, where a group of LARPers inadvertently summon a succubus from hell to wreak havoc on a climactic role-playing event. The problem is in the execution; the core characters are thinly-sketched and unlikeable, and the special effects are cheapjack, with the central creature like something from the Power Rangers TV show.

Worst of all, the gags almost uniformly miss the mark. Given the comparative quality of the cast, which includes Peter Dinklage and Summer Glau alongside the proven comedy chops of Ryan Kwanten, Danny Pudi and a completely wasted Steve Zahn, it's unforgivable that the humour is so under-par.