HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. A Repeat of (Good) Fun [REVIEW]

The phrase “live-action remake” is most commonly associated with recent adaptations of Disney classics (and indeed, this year alone we’ve already seen Snow White and Lilo & Stitch). This time, however, a new version of a beloved DreamWorks hit has hit theaters – How to Train Your Dragon. And while Disney remakes tend to add something new, with varying degrees of success, this year’s take on the adventures of Toothless and Hiccup will satisfy anyone who simply wants a retelling – the same story, just in a different form. That’s not a bad thing – it’s top-tier entertainment, just like the original animation was. Director Dean DeBlois clearly chose not to take risks or tamper too much with the plot, instead guiding the viewer through the same familiar narrative. To pull that off, though, he needed a few key components, starting with the cast. And thankfully, this part was handled superbly – Mason Thames as Hiccup is truly inspired casting. Not only does he resemble his animated counterpart, but he also perfectly captures the essence of the character on screen.

He’s charming, awkward, and trustworthy, and he works fantastically in scenes with the CGI version of Toothless. The dragon itself, as seen in the trailers, looks almost identical to the animated version (albeit with a slightly more “realistic” polish) and is just as lovable. The rest of the cast also delivers solid performances – Nico Parker brings plenty of Astrid’s boldness and has great chemistry with Thames. If anyone had concerns about this casting solely because Parker isn’t white, those worries were completely unfounded (and incidentally, the fact that Black people live in Berk is not ignored in the film).

Nick Frost and Gerard Butler are both fantastic as Gobber and Stoick – the latter, of course, has always been associated with this role, having voiced Stoick in the original. The actors strike a great balance between realism and the cartoonish charm of their characters, much like the rest of the cast playing Hiccup’s familiar friends. The second key element is the visuals – and again, there’s little to criticize. Like Toothless, the other dragons are simply more realistic (mainly in texture) versions of their animated selves, and the CGI is top-notch.

The sets (physically built on location) and costumes are impressive, and the flying sequences are exhilarating and dynamic. I was a bit worried about how the iconic test flight scene with Toothless would translate, but it evokes a similar thrill in live action (though I still slightly prefer the animated version for its pacing). None of this would work as well without the third crucial element – John Powell’s soundtrack, an absolutely magnificent piece of music. Like DeBlois, Powell didn’t try to outdo his past work; instead, he reused well-known themes that fans will instantly recognize.

Of course, repeating the same story doesn’t automatically guarantee a great film – just look at The Lion King (2019), which was also more or less a direct copy of the animation but lacked soul, and whose commitment to “realism” fell flat. But DeBlois succeeds in once again capturing what made the original so powerful – the live-action How to Train Your Dragon is an engaging adventure, full of excitement, humor, and heart. It’s clear the director didn’t approach the project as just a cash grab (even if that may have been the studio’s perspective).

That said, it’s a bit of a shame he didn’t take any creative risks or changes that might have made the film feel more like a standalone work – something to watch alongside the original, not instead of it. That way, it might have been harder to question the need for a remake, which was already being debated online as soon as the trailers dropped. Was this remake necessary? Probably not – the original animation still holds up beautifully. But was it turned into a good film anyway? Well, my son, who discovered the animated adventures of Toothless some time ago, left the theater delighted, and I too enjoyed reliving the story.

Maybe these kinds of safe, heartfelt remakes are better than experimental ones that lack any real affection for the characters.