Review: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ has all the heart of its predecessor

Remaking animated films into live action movies has become a trend in recent years. Disney began reaching into its vault in the 1990s, but didn’t start releasing these adaptations annually until 2014. They’ve had mixed success, repeatedly unable to find the balance between altering the story and remaining faithful to the original. Now, DreamWorks is throwing its hat in the ring, bringing one of its most iconic stories into the real world. How to Train Your Dragon combines flesh-and-blood actors with CGI reptiles to bring the narrative to life as it returns to the big screen 15 years after the original release.

The Vikings of Burke have a single purpose: kill the dragons that plague the realm, so they can live in peace. Hiccup’s (Mason Thames) father, Stoick (Gerard Butler), is their tribe’s chief, but they couldn’t be more different. The teen is known for his clumsiness and his father has difficulty hiding his embarrassment. But Hiccup’s latest invention may have finally brought down the most elusive dragon: a Night Fury. When he goes to find the downed beast and retrieve his trophy, he finds a frightened animal that needs his help. Hiccup names the dragon Toothless and the pair form a forbidden friendship that’s threatened by the dragon-blood-thirsty Vikings and something lurking in the mountains.

Canadian director Dean DeBlois, who helmed all the animated pictures in the franchise, returns to adapt the live-action film. His care for the story and its characters was clearly a bright, shining beacon for the making of this movie. Repurposing Game of Thrones sets, the first thing audiences will be struck by is the stunning landscapes that so closely resemble the original backdrops. The detailed costumes and production design transport moviegoers to Burke, dropping them in the centre of the Viking village defending against a dragon attack. The integration of and interactions with the CGI dragons are seamless, bringing the excitement of those scenes to another level as they appear to be realistic creatures occupying the same fantastical space as their human co-stars.

Unlike some of its Disney counterparts that see live-action adaptations as an opportunity to alter or update the classic stories, this movie is faithful to the original. DeBlois notes it was particularly important to remain true to the scenes in which Hiccup touches Toothless for the first time and their test ride of Toothless’ prosthetic tail because those are fan favourites. Notably, they don’t only physically recreate these moments, but they also recapture the emotions of the scenes. Even though authentically adapting the story was important, DeBlois also wanted to expand on the Viking lore and explain why they choose to stay on an island that experiences frequent dragon attacks.

The cast is well chosen, fitting their animated counterparts’ spirit if not also their appearance. Thames doesn’t radiate the same level of vulnerability as Jay Baruchel, but he reflects Hiccup’s heart. Meanwhile, Nico Parker exemplifies Astrid’s bravery and strategic initiative. And Nick Frost provides comedic relief as Hiccup’s mentor, the one-armed, one-legged Gobber. Butler, who lent his voice to Stoick in all the animated films, returns to play Hiccup’s father in the live-action version. He’s barely recognizable beneath the massive beard, but it provides some additional continuity between the films.

Even though the real world adaptation adds nearly 30 minutes to the picture, it doesn’t feel longer and is as enjoyable as its predecessor.

Director: Dean DeBlois
Starring: Mason Thames, Nico Parker and Gerard Butler