It was only a matter of time before DreamWorks followed in Disney’s footsteps and took a swing at a live-action remake. But compared to Disney’s catalogue, DreamWorks’ movies feel a bit less suited for the transition to live-action. As iconic as Kung Fu Panda and Shrek are, neither seems like a natural fit. That leaves us with their third big franchise: How to Train Your Dragon. Since this movie was announced, “Isle of Berk” at Epic Universe Orlando has opened, as well as an early green light for a second movie. It seems Dreamworks has a lot riding on this, so audiences were eager to get a look at this first flight.
When the runtime was first reported as 125 minutes, people began to wonder where that extra 27 minutes would go. Returning director Dean DeBlois made it clear he wanted to stay faithful to the source material, even bringing back composer John Powell, whose score was a huge part of what made the original so special. As with every live-action remake, the question loomed: Is this really necessary, and is there more story to tell? Despite the longer runtime, the plot remains nearly identical, with those extra minutes mostly spent on exposition dumping, often spelling out things the film had already shown us. For a story that originally trusted younger audiences to keep up, this hand-holding felt unnecessary and caused the fast pace to come to a crawl. It’s hard not to wonder if studio pressure led to the padding, and in trying not to change or add anything major, DeBlois might’ve seen this as the least risky compromise. Still, that approach ends up working, because even fifteen years later, and with me now fifteen years older, the story had my theater just as emotional as ever.
That same commitment to honoring the original extended beyond just the story. Gerard Butler returns as Stoick the Vast, and honestly, it’s a no-brainer. It’s pretty easy to bring your voice actor into live action when the character was modeled around him the first time around, regardless, Butler is amazing. As for Hiccup, Jay Baruchel is now 43, which left the door wide open for young talent to step in. Enter Mason Thames. From the opening monologue, it’s obvious how much he loves the role. His voice and awkward mannerisms show he did his homework, but he still manages to make their character his own. And when Thames shares the screen with the newly named “Fire Brigade”, especially Nico Parker’s Astrid, the film shines. Parker manages to capture that fierceness that both captivates and terrifies Hiccup at the start of the movie, while also bringing the warmth and charm, making her more than just the love interest.
As loved as Hiccup and Astrid are, the real scene-stealer has always been the fan favorite: Toothless. The dragons do not disappoint. Whether it’s one dragon or fifty, they look terrifying and adorable at the same time. Visually, Deblois again stayed very true to the original, even recreating some scenes shot-for-shot, which was a fun touch for longtime fans. Ironically, the biggest visual issues pop up when there isn’t a CGI dragon on screen. Much like last year’s Wicked, this movie falls into the trap of excessive backlighting. It’s especially noticeable in sunrise and sunset scenes, which there are a lot of. The lighting feels over-stylized, as if every frame is trying a little too hard to be “cinematic,” which ultimately had the opposite effect. That same logic seems to have carried over into the soundtrack. John Powell returns to expand on what is arguably his most beloved score, and while hearing those familiar themes again is a treat, the new version leans heavily into dramatic flair. It’s essentially the same soundtrack, just dressed up with more angelic vocals and drums—again, to make it feel more “cinematic.”
How to Train Your Dragon avoids many of the usual pitfalls that live-action remakes can’t escape, and as a standalone film, it works surprisingly well. It was refreshing to watch a remake and not constantly ask, “Wait, who’s that? Were they even in the original?” But when held up against its animated predecessor, it’s clear that sometimes less really is more. In trying to make the story more broadly accessible, some of the quiet beauty and emotional nuance that made the original so special gets lost. It’s still a heartfelt and enjoyable return to Berk, but for all its visual polish and extended runtime, the magic feels just a little more manufactured this time around.
