Why ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Works as a Live-Action Remake

Live-action remakes have been a cesspit of Hollywood’s worst creative impulses for years. Ever since studios discovered the lucrative market of hollowing out their vaults of animated classics to cash in with skeletal remakes of the same, audiences have suffered under half-alive zombie creations of some of their favorite films. While this year’s new releases have proven that live-action remakes aren’t going anywhere, the latest remake of How to Train Your Dragon offers hope that this might not always be a bad thing.

15 years ago, DreamWorks released the much-loved animated film How to Train Your Dragon. This year, Universal Pictures took audiences back to the dragon-fighting village of Berk with a live-action movie that explores the enchanting world that fans fell in love with the first time around. With an excellent cast, vibrant scenery, and an adherence to the heart of what made the original film so special, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon is about as good as any remake gets.

‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Is a Soaring Adventure That Brings the Story to Life

How to Train Your Dragon is a fun and visually stunning recreation of the 2010 film. Filled with fiery dragons, a village of fierce warriors, and lush scenery that gives the setting an otherworldly air, the film is a spirited and welcome adaptation of the beloved animated film. With a talented cast, a heavy dose of comedy, and its focus on the friendship between a dragon and a human who are meant to be enemies, How to Train Your Dragon is a feel-good adaptation that is worth watching. This thrilling and beautifully captured adventure is sure to delight both new and returning fans.

A strong cast leads the film. However, the absolute standouts here are Mason Thames and Gerard Butler. Mason Thames is perfect as the awkward, though determined, protagonist Hiccup, a young Viking who wants to prove his mettle by finally slaying a dragon. Gerard Butler reprises his role as clan chieftain and Hiccup’s disappointed father, Stoick the Vast. The decision to bring Butler back was one in a series of wise decisions by the creators of this film.

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Not only does Butler own this role, but the actor is believable and commanding in every single scene; the continuation of his character adds a measure of authenticity to the world as he bridges both the animated and the live-action versions. Although there is not enough in this film that is different from the original to make it a necessary watch, fans can consider the How to Train Your Dragon remake as an enjoyable companion to the original. That it does not suffer a drop in quality from the original is a recommendation in itself.

‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Keeps Close to the Original

For fans of the original How to Train Your Dragon, the new live-action film will offer no surprises. The story follows the plot of the original movie very closely, in what is almost a shot-for-shot rendition of the original story. While this may seem somewhat pointless at times, it is far preferable to the alternative. Over the years, audiences have been at the mercy of remakes that have the misfortune of doing either too little or too much.

In the first camp, studios play the shell game, offering audiences nothing more than a hollow, carbon-copy remake. And in the second, the writers and directors re-imagine and reshape the story in a completely unfamiliar way that serves neither itself nor its audience. It’s the creative equivalent of butchering it out for parts and presenting a Frankenstein’s monster. However, the new How to Train Your Dragon has found a sweet spot between these two avenues.

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Sticking closely to the original, How to Train Your Dragon avoids feeling like a lifeless rehash. While offering subtle touches of development, the story remains true to the heart of the original film. Hiccup’s relationship with his burgeoning friend Toothless, as well as his contentious relationship with his father and his village, is the true heart of the film. There are attempts to flesh out the supporting characters, even more so than in the original animated movie.

The ever-strong Astrid’s journey to be the best comes off a bit more frenetic, as evidenced by her struggle to improve her station. Although some of the storylines don’t quite fully pay off, the smaller attempts to flesh out the story make for a much more developed world, while also not veering from the focus of the story.

How to Train Your Dragon also stars Nico Parker, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, and Nick Frost. Not content to rest solely on the history of its predecessor, the film is a close adaptation that stays true to the heart of the original while offering slight variations in a manner that complements the story. Live-action movies may have earned their bad name, but How to Train Your Dragon may be looking to change that. Finally. How to Train Your Dragon is in theaters now.