The current Hollywood trend of turning beloved animated classics into live action movies has met with very mixed results, thanks to Disney cranking them out whether anyone seems to be asking for them or not. Their most recent effort, LILO & STITCH, was a big financial success, but definitely lacked the heart and charm of the original in a big way. Being a giant fan of the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON animated trilogy, I was hoping for the best with the new “live action” adaptation being helmed by the animated trilogy’s writer/director Dean DeBlois… in the interest of full disclosure, I’m actually friends with Dean in real life, but I’m also the type of critic who isn’t afraid to be honest regardless of personal relationships. That said, the fact that Universal Pictures and DreamWorks allowed Dean to be the man who took on adapting this movie for live action was already giving me hope, as it’s safe to say no one would have understood the source material better than him anyway. I’m happy to say he did it justice in a big way.
If you’ve never seen the original animated version of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, the story revolves around the Viking village of Berk, led by Stoick (Gerard Butler), who desperately wants his son Hiccup (Mason Thames) to follow in his bold footsteps. Berk is plagued with dragons flying into their village, creating fiery havoc and stealing their livestock. The town does their best to fight them off, but Stoick feels they can’t truly win until they find their nest and destroy it. Hiccup is nothing like Stoick, not warrior material and not the sort who even wants to kill creatures, let alone hunt dragons. He is enamored with Astrid (Nico Parker), a local girl who is the more likely warrior to succeed Stoick, but only if she can prove herself to the villagers. In an accidental turn of events, Hiccup snares a Night Fury, which is thought to be the deadliest and most cunning of the dragons. The only problem is no one sees it happen, and wouldn’t believe someone like him even being capable of doing such a thing. Hiccup tracks down his target, and can’t bring himself to kill it, which sparks an unexpected friendship between man and beast. He even names it “Toothless” on account of the creature’s retracting teeth. As their bond grows, Hiccup uses his new relationship to develop a deeper understanding of dragons, and hopes to convince the village that they can coexist, but Stoick is too set in his ways to listen.
The story of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is essentially the “boy and his dog” tale, only with a dragon in place of the dog. But it’s also a tale that shows the importance of taking time to understand each other and see the value in people you may underestimate. The messages are poignant and easy to relate to, and there’s a lot to appreciate in the storytelling here, taken from the books of Cressida Cowell. The original animated film was just about perfect, both as a cinematic experience and as a family film that does exactly what it should. Thankfully, writer/director Dean DeBlois understood the value of not straying from what made the original work. Yes, this is essentially the same movie, with the same characters and same beats as the original. It’s not quite as comical or silly in the ways the original was, but it’s handled smartly in that it doesn’t forget what made the 2010 version work so well. The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless is what makes or breaks this story, and it’s done perfectly here thanks to the sincerity or Mason Thames’ performance. Some may wonder how any other actor could capture the awkward charm Jay Baruchel brought the same role in animated form, but Thames finds the perfect balance for this version, and it’s never goofy or exaggerated, yet feels very much in the spirit of the original take. Thames is excellent here, and really sells the concepts in a convincing way. Nico Parker is quite good as Astrid, also capturing the charm of the character from the animated version, but finding a more centered and reasoned tone for her character. Parker has sadly come under fire from oddly-sensitive fans of the original trilogy as she’s somewhat different in appearance from the animated version of Astrid, particularly her lack of blond hair, but I found her take on the role to be really solid and likable, and I see why Dean picked her for it. I hope those fans who complained the loudest will give her a chance, as I think they’d have to admit she’s pretty good here.
One of the most important aspects of the new film is the inclusion of Gerard Butler, returning to the role of Stoick in a way that feels like it just had to be… I cannot imagine any other actor taking on this character, and having him play it here was a stroke of genius. He delivers strength and gravitas to the character, and it really does feel like he leaped from the animation in flawless fashion. He even looks visually comparable to the exaggerated appearance Stoick had in the animated movies, but somehow it just works. The supporting cast are all fun and effective in their respective roles. Nick Frost finds the right beats playing the local blacksmith Gobber, who trains Hiccup and serves as a voice of reason for Stoick. Gobber is a comedic character in both versions, but where Craig Ferguson voiced him as a goofy jokester, Frost plays him more as a grizzled guiding force of motivation, while still cracking a few jokes here and there. It’s a character that is definitely a bit different from the animated version, but handled in a clever way. Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), and Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered) are all fun additions to the cast playing Hiccups bullies-turned-friends, also trying to prove themselves worthy to the village. They’re a bit more competitive and judgemental of our hero here, but it works and feels natural for this version.
As with the original, some of the best scenes are the moments where Hiccup takes Toothless up for a flight, riding him like a majestic horse through the breathtaking scenery of Iceland (standing in for Berk here), and I’m happy to say those scenes in this version are just as wonderful and powerful to take in… I’ll admit, I actually found myself crying tears of joy in those moments, as it brought back fond memories of falling in love with the 2010 version. Perhaps the most welcome return in this new adaptation is John Powell back as the film’s musical composer, once again delivering his fantastic themes that were so memorable in the animated films. Powell has long been one of my favorite film composers of the modern era, and this new effort is a reminder of just how incredible he can be. His music is a big part of why these movies work so well.
But again, this all comes down to Dean and his abilities as a director, and how he masterfully captured the essence and endearing charm of the original movie in a way that feels loving and respectful. I’ve seen some folks call this an “unnecessary” remake, and perhaps you could choose to look at it that way, but it’s also an opportunity to introduce a new generation to the magnificent story in a form that is just as wonderful as the 2010 effort. A lot of the Disney attempts at adapting their animated classics seem to make changes that taint the appeal of the stories, or in some cases leave out or change the best scenes from the originals. DRAGON keeps it all there and it’s just like you remembered, just a little more grounded in reality for the live action look. DeBlois knows why the original worked, and he brings that magic to life in a new way with the 2025 version, delivering what may just be one of the most crowd-pleasing films of the year. If the cheering at the end of our packed advance screening is any indicator, this updated take is going to find its audience and make them very happy. If you’ve seen the originals and love them, chances are you’ll really appreciate this new version and understand that sometimes these live action adaptations can be a smart idea. If you’ve never seen the original, then you’re really in for a treat by discovering it this way. I saw this in IMAX, and it really makes use of the large format and doesn’t hold back on visual greatness. If you have IMAX in your neighborhood, do yourself a favor and see it that way, you’ll be glad you did. Also make sure to stick around through the credits for a short but sweet post-credit stinger.