Ratiung 7/10
I think I’ve found the secret to enjoying these live-action remakes: go in with little to no memory of the original. That was true for me with Lilo & Stitch earlier this summer and now again with How to Train Your Dragon. Sure, I saw the 2010 animated version from DreamWorks, but it’s been about 15 years—I barely remember it.
According to reports, this is a shot-for-shot reproduction. That can be a double-edged sword—or rather a battle axe, since this is a Norse-inspired world. If you’re simply replicating something verbatim, one might ask why it needs to exist again. But then again, the first film got it right…so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
In the Viking village of Berk, young outcast Hiccup (Mason Thames), son of chieftain Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), is expected to fight dragons like everyone else. He trains in combat with other teens, including Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), Fishlegs (Julian Dennison), Ruffnut (Bronwyn James), and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn). Oh, and don’t forget Astrid (Nico Parker), the fierce girl he likes. She is as untamable as any beast. Hiccup secretly befriends a wounded Night Fury he names Toothless. Through this bond, he learns that dragons aren’t the mindless enemies his people believe. The unlikely hero risks everything to change his tribe’s way of thinking.
The adaptation is directed by Dean DeBlois, who also co-directed the cartoon. How to Train Your Dragon marks his second live-action remake this summer, following Lilo & Stitch, which he co-created with Chris Sanders. It’s intriguing to see how his work changes when reinterpreted through this lens.
What the reimagining offers is a different kind of poignancy. There’s a visceral immediacy. For example, the micro-expressions of a human face are elements that must be simplified even in the most artful illustrations. Animation excels at creating fantastical worlds and creatures that defy the laws of physics. But human actors bring a tactile texture to storytelling. A glance, a furrowed brow, or an unspoken moment between characters can land with more weight when performed by real actors.
This version brought out something I hadn’t remembered from the 2010 film: its emotional core. The intimacy of human performance made the relationships feel more grounded. Mason Thames, who impressed me in The Black Phone (2021), stars as Hiccup, bringing vulnerability to the part. His early scenes with Astrid have an energy reminiscent of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Tension gradually gives way to trust—especially after a shared ride on Toothless that shifts her perspective.
The father-son relationship also stood out. Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick, Hiccup’s gruff but loving father. Their bond—strained by expectations but rooted in love—feels more immediate. Hiccup’s desire for approval and Stoick’s struggle to understand his son hit harder when portrayed in flesh and blood.
It’s a simple story with few surprises. Yet the heart is real; the special effects were genuinely impressive. I was glad to take the ride. This dragon tale still has fire.
06-12-25