Shadows on the Wall | How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon

dir-scr Dean DeBlois
prd Dean DeBlois, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel
with Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Naomi Wirthner, Peter Serafinowicz, Murray McArthur, Anna Leong Brophy
release US/UK 13.Jun.25
25/US Universal 2h05

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Instead of going for something new with this remake, filmmaker Dean DeBlois opts to shoot his own movie again with live actors instead of animated characters. It's still a rousing, involving coming-of-age story, although the comedy and sentiment feel cornier coming from real people. And while the action is soaring, it lacks that swooping point-of-view perspective. That said, this finely made film is likely to find its own fans.

On the island of Berk, Viking residents continually battle raiding dragons. But brainy Hiccup (Thames) isn't living up to the warrior legend of his father Stoick (Butler). He's only training in dragon-slaying because he can hang out with hot tough-girl Astrid (Parker). Then one of Hiccup's inventions inadvertently downs the most feared dragon, a night fury. Instead of killing the injured creature, Hiccup names it Toothless, and they secretly become inseparable friends. So he's learning how to work with dragons instead of killing them, which the villagers, and especially his father, aren't ready to consider.

Rather than creating something fresh and earthy, the design work slavishly echoes the original's cartoonish aesthetic, from settings and costumes to the dragons themselves. Even with first-rate effects, this undermines the story, highlighting plot holes such as how quickly Hiccup, Astrid and their hapless fellow teens (Howell, Dennison, James and Trevaldwyn) so quickly become dragon-riding experts. And the big climax becomes oddly out-of-scale in a Lord of the Rings, thousands-must-have-died sort of way. Thankfully, the narrative charges along at a rollicking pace, which keeps things entertaining.

Thames gives Hiccup a thoughtful personality, making him a likeable young man whose daddy issues and lovelorn crush feel genuinely weighty. Scenes with Parker's plucky Astrid are enjoyably spiky. She's the one character who feels more fleshed out this time. And Butler has fun as the blustery Stoick, who is simply unable to listen to anything anyone tells him, barging into every situation with intentional ignorance. Frost is funny as the fight trainer Gobber, as are the four trainees who provide comical relief and some pointed themes.

It's odd that DeBlois didn't add anything to this remake. The story is still thrilling and emotionally powerful, and it still resonates with important ideas about the pressure of expectations and the perils of perceiving anything strange as an enemy. Those unfamiliar with the original film will find plenty to enjoy here. But pre-existing fans will wonder why it feels eerily less grounded than the fully animated version.

themes, violence 8.Jun.25

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