- The live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon' captures Berk's beauty and dragon design.
- The film mirrors the original, lacking new elements and fresh storytelling risks.
- Supporting characters fall flat, but it's a family-friendly option for younger audiences.
I am not a huge fan of the live-action remake craze. I understand why studios are doing it and it's the same reason studios make just about every decision: money.
They know the remake has a great chance to make a boatload of money. Therefore, they back up the trailer, put the boat in the water and wait for the money to start filling up the craft.
Sure, there are box office misses like "Snow White," but then there are massive successes like "Lilo & Stitch." The more successful these movies are, the more remakes we can expect.
The latest to get the treatment is not a Disney movie, but Dreamworks in the form of "How to Train Your Dragon."
Here's a breakdown of what worked for me and where the film fell short.
The good
Berk and its beauty
One of the things I've always loved about the "How to Train Your Dragon" movies is the setting. The Viking island of Berk is whimsical, rugged and beautiful, and I was excited to see it brought to life in a live-action adaptation. And honestly, they didn't disappoint.
The town itself felt as lively and dynamic as it did in the animated films, with the same quirky architecture and gorgeous landscapes that make it feel like an actual place. I found myself immersed in the world of Berk, wishing I could book a vacation (one I definitely couldn't afford) to spend a week in an Airbnb on the island.
The attention to detail in the set design was fantastic, and I genuinely appreciated how vibrant and alive the world felt.
Dragon design was better than expected
I'll be honest; I was skeptical about how the dragons would look in live-action. After all, these are mythical creatures, and the animated versions of Toothless and his friends are so beloved and iconic. I expected the live-action versions to feel like cheap knockoffs. Thankfully, I was wrong.
While Toothless, more or less, looks the same as he did in the animated films, it's the other dragons that really shine in the live-action world. The effects team did a fantastic job of making the dragons feel like real creatures. At times, they even had a "Jurassic Park" vibe; these terrifying, reptilian beasts that looked ready to wreak havoc while searching for their next meal. They were still fantastical, but they fit well within the real-world setting.
The balance of making them awe-inspiring without scaring younger viewers was well executed.
The not-so-good
Same story, same sags, same characters
As much as I wanted to be swept up in the live-action magic of "How to Train Your Dragon," the reality is that this movie doesn't bring much new to the table.
The storyline is practically identical to the original animated film. I get it; this is a remake, and it's trying to capture the essence of the original, but where other successful remakes, like "Lilo & Stitch," added something new and fresh, "How to Train Your Dragon" didn't really take any risks.
Most of the jokes and gags were recycled, which left me feeling like I was watching the same movie but with real people and CGI dragons. The 9-year-old girls I brought with me were quoting lines word-for-word in real-time, even though they had "never" seen the movie.
The lack of newness made it hard for me to fully engage with the movie, especially in the first third. The pacing was slow, and I found myself struggling to get into it. Perhaps it's because I'm so familiar with the original film, but I just wasn't hooked at first. It wasn't until Hiccup and Toothless finally started interacting that the movie picked up for me.
Interestingly, those same little girls seemed to feel the same way. For the first 30 minutes, they were climbing over each other, fighting for popcorn, and not paying attention. But as soon as Hiccup and Toothless started working together, they were glued to the screen in silence.
It was a great reminder that, at the end of the day, this film is really for younger audiences, not for those of us who've seen the original movies multiple times.
The supporting characters fell flat
One of the things that made the "How to Train Your Dragon" movies so enjoyable was the colorful and dynamic group of supporting characters. Hiccup's friends brought a lot of fun and humor to the films, but in the live-action version, they just didn't have the same impact.
The supporting cast was fine, but their roles felt underdeveloped, and the jokes didn't land as well as they did in the animated version. It almost felt like the filmmakers were trying to recreate the magic of the original by using the same characters and their jokes, but without the same charm or comedic timing.
It's not that the actors didn't do their jobs well; it's just that the characters lacked the same chemistry or comedic spark that made them memorable in the first place.
What parents need to know
"How to Train Your Dragon" is rated PG for some action and peril, but it's a fairly mild rating in comparison to other animated and live-action films in the same genre. There are no major mature themes, and the violence is typical for a family adventure.
There's some action involving the dragons, including some intense moments of peril, but it's not overly graphic or frightening. That being said, there are some tense scenes where the dragons are in danger, and that could be a bit much for younger children.
Overall, the movie is a great choice for families with kids of most ages, but parents should be aware that some moments of danger could be unsettling for the very young.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the "How to Train Your Dragon" live-action remake is fine. It brings some of the charm of the original films, especially in its stunning visuals of Berk and the dragons. The effects team deserves credit for making the dragons come to life in a real-world setting. But the film doesn't offer enough new material to make it stand out or feel fresh. The story is virtually identical to the original, and the supporting characters lack the same energy and humor that made them so enjoyable in the animated films.
If you're a fan of the "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise, you'll likely enjoy this remake, but it doesn't quite capture the magic of the original trilogy. If you're looking for something that adds new life to the story, this movie might leave you a little disappointed.
For younger audiences who may not have seen the original films, "How to Train Your Dragon" will still be an enjoyable adventure. But for those of us who've grown attached to the animated version, the live-action remake feels like a missed opportunity to bring something fresh to the table.
"How to Train Your Dragon" is officially rated PG for action and peril, and is a family-friendly option for kids and adults alike.
