Studios used to wait an average of thirty to forty years before remaking beloved intellectual properties. Now, with How to Train Your Dragon—an animated film that debuted in 2010—it seems the window has shrunk to fifteen or twenty years, at most. Films barely have time to reach classic status before a remake draft is already greenlit.
That said, How to Train Your Dragon is being remade as a live-action adaptation, which TNT would call a “new” animated classic, a strategic move. Studios and theaters are desperate for a hit, and family films rarely fall flat. While this version may not be as strong as the original, it retains what family audiences connect with most.
A heartwarming story about fathers, sons, and finding one’s place in the world.
How to Train Your Dragon’s Review and Synopsis
The story follows Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Monster Summer’s Mason Thames), a misfit on the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been at war for generations. Hiccup is the son of Chief Stoick (Den of Thieves’ Gerard Butler), the formidable leader of a united Viking community dedicated to battling the winged, fire-breathing reptiles.
Stoick is frustrated with his son, who has more brains than brawn. Though Hiccup invents a cannon designed to bring down dragons safely, he lacks the killer instinct prized by the tribe. After having to rescue Hiccup yet again during a recent skirmish, Stoick becomes convinced that his son has no place in Berk and is viewed as a disappointment by other Vikings.
But that night, everything changed. Hiccup manages to bring down the elusive Night Fury dragon. Instead of killing it, he chooses to spare its life. The nocturnal, aerodynamic serpent is wounded, having lost half of its tail fin. Ever the innovator, Hiccup designs a prosthetic to help the dragon, whom he affectionately calls “Toothless” because of their retractable teeth.
The live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon has magic in it!
Toothless will now be able to fly again, forming an unlikely bond. In turn, the dragon teaches Hiccup how to use his intellect to overcome any threat, reshaping his destiny and his people.
The live-action remake How to Train Your Dragon was written and directed by Dean DeBlois, the filmmaker who made a mint or two with three HTTYD films but also made the original Lilo & Stitch with Chris Sanders, whose collaboration spans to last year’s best animated film, The Wild Robot.
The remake honors the original with some nice dramatic depth, majestic action sequences that soar, and beautiful special effects. Composer John Powell is back for this version, enhancing character emotions and emotional depth with rich leitmotifs that inspire awe. As does Bill Pope’s (Alita: Battle Angel) cinematography, capturing the aerial scenes with glorious delight.
Is How to Train Your Dragon Worth Watching?
DeBlois’ script has a time-tested structure, starting the second act with Hiccup having an abrasive relationship with his peers, which is where most of the comic relief comes from, and that can be very funny. So is Nick Frost, who plays Gobber the Belch and Thames’ mentor.
How to Train Your Dragon may not be as good as the original, but it is worth watching because it is a story not just about finding your place in life, but a touching story about fathers and sons. While the romance is sweet, it is a bit clichéd between Hiccup and Nico Parker’s Astrid. It’s the Butler and Thames subplot that supports the audience engagement to the end.
Was a live-action remake needed? Less than fifteen years after the original and only six years since the third installment? Of course not. However, there is enough here to love, with enough magic in it to entertain the entire family.
You can watch the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon in theaters June 13th!
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