How to Train Your Dragon, 2025.
Written and Directed by Dean DeBlois.
Starring Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, Naomi Wirthner, Murray McArthur, Andrea Ware, Anna Leong Brophy, Marcus Onilude, Pete Selwood, Kate Kennedy, Daniel-John Williams, Nick Cornwell, Selina Jones, and Samuel Johnson.
SYNOPSIS:
As an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the friendship between Hiccup, an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the key to both species forging a new future together.
Taking matters into his own hands, How to Train Your Dragon creator/writer/director Dean DeBlois gives Hollywood a lesson: How to Pull Off a Live-Action Remake Successfully. The answer is, of course, as simple as not losing the magic when transferring the material (still based on the novel by Cressida Cowell, but primarily a shot for shot remake of the beloved original animated version) between mediums while striking and maintaining a balance between realism, grounded characterizations, whimsical humor, and cartoonish physics.
Most importantly, the central dragon, which comes to be named Toothless, is majestic with expressive green eyes and physicality more in line with traditional animation despite being a CG creation. While more detailed and lifelike in appearance, aspects of Toothless are practically plucked from the original animated features; he fits in each medium. Having seen dragons integrated into movies and TV shows before likely helps the seamless visual presentation. There isn’t that feeling of watching something that shouldn’t be, which has been the case for most live-action remakes. A live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon makes more sense than most attempts, particularly since, while inspiration is heavily drawn from the animated version, the material is not bound to that medium, having already come from a book.
Even though the narrative is mostly a carbon copy (the running time is extended and there are small changes here and there that lead to the same destination), the interactions between the brainy and sensitive inventor Hiccup (here played by Mason Thames, looking and sounding nearly identical to former voiceover counterpart Jay Baruchel) and Toothlees, both initially fearful of one another before developing a shared understanding that neither want to hurt one another and that he only wants to tend to the dragon’s injuries that he is technically responsible for, are charmingly tender.
Hiccup doesn’t actually want to hurt or kill dragons (although he thinks he does at the beginning of the story), but is pressured into doing so by the rest of his Viking tribe led by his father, Stoick (Gerard Butler donning some oversized gear and an epic beard to reprise his role in live-action form) who have been waging a war against the beasts passed down from generations. Given his scrawny build and nerdy demeanor, Stoick knows that the young man isn’t built for picking up arms against dragons, no matter how much Hiccup wants to impress his dad and receive his approval. Dragons, having also killed his mother, play into this never-ending war. However, it’s also obvious to us and Hiccup that he is not a fighter or a killer.
Following an attack on their village, Hiccup heads off into the forest (beautiful and serene with shots of mountains, creeks, and more) the next day to locate a dangerous dragon nicknamed Night Fury that he believes one of his heavy artillery contraptions injured from a distance. There, he finds the wounded dragon and is unable to finish it off, but instead uses his smarts not only to heal and get it flying again, but also to build devices to mount and ride while also serving as a copilot safely.
Meanwhile, Hiccup applies what he learns about dragons to a youth training camp of sorts, intended to prepare the next generation to continue the war. This is also where other amusing characters come in, each seeking fame and honor through violence, and what still feels like a comedic riff on the nature of such misplaced heroics and parental dynamics, which prioritize strength and toughness. Without actually harming the captive dragons, Hiccup impresses and demonstrates that he might know more about the situation than anyone.
Whether it is trainer Gobber (Nick Frost, whose goofy facial expressions feel made for a live-action adaptation of an animated feature), the statistics/bestiary-minded Fishlegs (Julian Dennison also shines at pulling off slapstick humor elements within real environments), and others, the tone is appropriately light and fun. There is also Astrid (now played by Nico Parker), who doesn’t have much to do in this first entry other than be a feisty fighter who is also a character of desire for the trainees around her. Nevertheless, the bonding between her and Hiccup is also effective.
Although there are fewer stakes than usual for a family-friendly action adventure film (considering anyone who has seen the original knows where this is going), the heart of the story remains intact. That’s rare in itself for a big-budget extravaganza that escalates into epic-scale action. Despite that, there will always be the feeling that one could be watching the original. However, judging How to Train Your Dragon for what it is, it’s an enjoyable retelling in a new medium.
The elephant in the room is whether or not the end result has proven a live-action remake necessary. The answer to that question is no. However, How to Train Your Dragon is an artistically worthwhile endeavor, with sincere effort and soul put into it, from the direction to the visual effects team that should be commended above everyone else for making that blend of live-action and CGI cohesive, rather than an uncanny, ghastly distraction. Radiating from the screen is the importance of this story to Dean DeBlois, who takes the gamble that, if DreamWorks insists on doing this, either he can make it work or no one can.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd
