‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Review: DreamWorks Swoops Into the Remake Game With Respectful Cover From Co-Director of 2010 Toon

by

Waiting fifteen years isn’t really a long span before DreamWorks decides to replicate almost scene by scene their hit animated film, “How to Train Your Dragon.” This time frame is equivalent to Hiccup Haddock’s age, the young Viking who dared to challenge his warring tribe’s age-old enmity towards dragons by forming a friendship with one of these fire-breathing creatures. Coincidentally, it’s also about the period when the initial film’s tween audience might start feeling nostalgic.

The studio appears to be taking a risk, given they’re releasing “How to Train Your Dragon” three weeks after Disney’s success with the live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch,” which was co-created by the same duo who directed the initial “Dragon” film (Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois).

Instead of handing the task of reimagining “Dragon” to another director, DreamWorks opted to let DeBlois lead this remarkably accurate update. This adaptation, featuring a gritty human cast, is predominantly animated (particularly in the latter half), especially when dragons take center stage and become crucial characters.

In both iterations of the movie, the script bears a striking resemblance, much like if two separate theater groups were staging the same play decades apart. Thankfully, “How to Train Your Dragon” boasts a robust and enduring screenplay, based on the book by Cressida Cowell with a loose adaptation.

At first glance, this film shares similarities with movies such as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Born Free,” where humans develop unconventional bonds with creatures perceived as dangerous or potentially harmful by others. However, at its heart, the story revolves around the father-son dynamic, with Hiccup’s father, Stoick, attempting to shape his successor in his likeness (with Gerard Butler delivering a convincing portrayal). Meanwhile, the rule-breaking boy questions whether he can gain acceptance while forging his unique path.

In other words, DeBlois’ role is to determine the level of similarity he wants to maintain with the original, and then use the advanced technology of visual effects to make “Dragon” appear as realistic as a real photograph. Interestingly, emotional authenticity becomes crucial since computer-generated Vikings can’t express their feelings as clearly as human actors do. This leads us to DeBlois’ critical decision: who should portray Hiccup? The director selected teen actor Mason Thames, who might not initially appear as a awkward outcast, but his body language tells a compelling story (just like Jay Baruchel’s voice used to).

Physically, Thames resembles a youthful John Krasinski with robust features and undeniable charm that could make any heart flutter. It’s challenging to envision Astrid (Nico Parker), who is both a dream girl and an intense dragon tamer, being drawn towards Hiccup’s rowdy classmates, particularly Snotlout (Gabriel Howell). The adults on the Island of Berk are large, grungy, and often hairy, while Hiccup stands out with his smooth peach fuzz and a casual, Justin Bieber-esque hairstyle flip. Most of the grown-ups have lost limbs in their battles against various dragon species that frequently attack their village.

Until Hiccup catches one, no one has ever laid eyes on the elusive seventh kind, the fearsome creature known as the Night Fury. As the son of chief Stoick, who harbors intense hatred towards monsters after they claimed his wife’s life, Hiccup is considered a disappointment due to his scrawny build and sensitive nature. Unlike his father who embodies macho courage, Hiccup struggles to live up to these expectations. However, when he encounters the Night Fury, instead of slaying it as his father would have done, Hiccup chooses to forge a connection with the beast.

In this crucial scene, Hiccup timidly advances towards the injured dragon, presenting fish as a gesture of peace. This scene is pivotal, as it’s where a tentative friendship between boy and beast is formed. For director DeBlois, this silent sequence presents an additional challenge: to persuade viewers that a real boy and a potentially deadly, digitally created dragon can not only be allies, but convincing as on-screen companions.

watching their bond unfold brings back the sensation of falling in love anew, with DeBlois utilizing subtle character animation and John Powell’s enchanting score (which beautifully expresses the deep bond between species) to give the impression that these digital characters possess just as much life as human actors who yearn to touch them. Choosing the ideal Hiccup wasn’t as perilous as modifying Toothless’ appearance (the name the child gives him), but it was essential for us to accept that Vikings could find such a magnificent beast terrifying.

Instead of Toothless, compared to other dragons envisioned by character designer Nico Marlet with comically lopsided features such as bulging eyes, oversized heads, and awkwardly large teeth, Toothless was a graceful blend of feline and canine characteristics on a slender black reptilian body. DeBlois toned down the cute factor somewhat while giving this colossal creature an authentic presence. Toothless maintained his own presence alongside Hiccup, even in scenes that seemed more like sets than real locations.

As “Dragon” progresses, it grows increasingly believable, possibly due to the majority of filming being done digitally. Once Hiccup and Toothless master synchronized flight, and Stoick compels Hiccup’s new ally to guide them to the dragons’ lair, the human actors deliver remarkably lifelike performances, particularly Nick Frost as dragon trainer Gobber and Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn as the twin comedians Ruffnut and Tuffnut. The trio consistently elicits fresh laughter from jokes that are fifteen years old. The character of Astrid has always been the film’s most independent, and in Parker’s portrayal, her relationship with Hiccup evokes a sense reminiscent of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, especially when they soar through the skies together.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but reminisce about the incredible journey of “How to Train Your Dragon.” What started as a single, breathtaking tale didn’t stop there; it bloomed into a magnificent trilogy over time. With this revisit by DeBlois, we have the unique opportunity to strengthen the foundational elements, which can only make the sequels even more captivating.

Improving upon the first movie is no easy feat, but the last act in this new version seems to be a masterpiece. It’s as if DeBlois has unlocked the expressive power hidden within the style of “Heavy Metal” animations and Boris Vallejo paintings, creating an iconic finale that leaves me in awe.

Initially, DeBlois’ participation seemed like a means to safeguard “Dragon” from another director disrupting it. However, in the end, his perspective plays a role in making the entire fantastical tale more real and authentic.

Read More

2025-06-09 10:17