So it seems that Universal has decided that Disney is not going to have a monopoly on live-action remakes of animated all-audience films. With the success of many of those films, along with the opening of the new Isle of Berk attraction at Universal Studios Orlando that this might be the perfect time to release a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon.
While many openly wonder why remake this film, especially in a way that is almost exactly like the original animated film, I get it. Not everyone saw the original or its many sequels and animated series. This can not only attract more people to the franchise, but a live-action one also looks close to what the theme park will look like, allowing you to connect the film with the real-life experience you can have. Your question now will be, “Well, is it good or a waste of time?” Since I never watched the original or honestly never cared to do so, it’s all new to me, and the movie is very effective and very good.
The story is about a young Viking teenager named Hiccup (Mason Thames) who lives with his father, the chieftain of the Viking tribe Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler). They live on the isle of Berk, which is close to where Dragons live, and their goal is to kill all the dragons. The town, made up of all the best Vikings from all the tribes, is focused on this goal, with Hiccup aspiring to be a great Viking and make his father proud, but he’s an awkward teen who’s better with his brains than brawn.
His whole worldview is turned upside down after accidentally capturing an unseen dragon, who he ends up calling Toothless, and he learns that he doesn’t want to kill dragons but wants to find a way for humans to live in peace with them. Mix in Hiccup going through Dragon Viking training, being the teen outcast of the village, and having a crush on the best teen Viking warrior of the village, Astrid (Nico Parker); you have a perfect Young Adult story filled with humor and great action.
Mason Thames does a remarkable job here as Hiccup, delivering a performance that makes it easy to empathize with the character and his struggles with his father and his quest for acceptance by his village. He lands the humor and scenes that are supposed to tug at your heart. Gerard Butler is perfect here, as I learned he voiced the character in the original. Here, he’s able to bring such a huge performance that reminded me of his starring role in 300. He’s the manliest man that can ever man if you get me. Punching dragons and leading warriors into battle, yet the scenes where he’s struggling to connect with Hiccup are some of the best stuff he does in the film.
I like Nico Parker as Astrid; she does well to portray a character who is clearly better at everything than her peers yet still feels human and relatable. Thames and Parker brings terrific high school romcom energy to this fantasy Viking action comedy. Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn are fun as Ruffnut and Tuffnut, the twins who enjoy being Vikings a bit too much. They have solid comedic timing in their performances with their co-stars.
Julian Dennison’s Fishlegs was my favorite character as he nerds out about each dragon and helped me make more sense of the creatures I was watching on screen. The standout in this film is the visual effects team, as the Dragons look excellent. I felt like they put the same resources into this film that they put into Jurassic Park. The Dragons feel real, and the fire-breathing feels like a genuine danger, akin to a natural disaster.
The flight scenes have the same kick as the fighter jet scenes in Top Gun. The color and effects mesh well, adding to the immersion and believability. There was one scene in the last act that had that gray MCU VFX flatness, but it’s short. The colors usually pop with wonderful blues of the sky and oceans, as well as reds, oranges, and even Toothless’ black scales, which are rich on the screen, even as there is so much movement on the screen.
So, while this remake might be just a reminder of the franchise and a commercial for a new theme park, it is clear that How to Train Your Dragon is beloved for a reason. I know that reason now with this delightful remake, and I think sometimes just remaking the movie is a better choice than trying to “fix” the story for live-action or current times. Universal got a hit on their hands here.
Rating: B+
Level of Enthusiasm: 90%
