Aaron Ploof
I haven’t seen the animated version of How to Train Your Dragon for quite a while. So, before heading to the theatres to review this one, I decided to revisit the original. I saw that, yes, the first How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD for short) is a great example of an animated film done right. Jay Baruchel (Hiccup), Gerard Butler (Stoick), and Craig Ferguson (Gobber) all give strong performances. The film stands out for its humor and dramatic screenplay. On top of that, it reminds viewers that being true to yourself is important most of all. I can see why, for the last 15 years, fans have deemed it a classic.
I was excited to see how the new film would update the screenplay. Unfortunately, I left the theatre largely disappointed. While there are new additions that add extra dimension to the work, these are largely ineffective. With a by-the-numbers, almost shot-for-shot remake and duller performances, the How to Train Your Dragon live-action version ends up being a shadow of its former self.
Dangerous Dragons?
For those unfamiliar with the premise of HTTYD, this is the basic gist: a young Viking misfit named Hiccup (Mason Thames) lives with his tribe on an island village called Berk. Dangerous dragons constantly attack the village. They make off with the Viking’s livestock and burn their houses to the ground. The Vikings refuse to leave; they have purposefully moved to the island to take the battle to the dragons themselves. Everyone except for Hiccup, that is. While the other Vikings are built like powerhouses, Hiccup is small and skinny. Despite his weak stature, Hiccup desperately wants to kill a dragon and prove himself to his dad and the Viking leader, Stoick (Gerard Butler).
Hiccup finally gets his chance when he downs a vicious Night Fury, the most dangerous dragon of them all. He attempts to kill it but sees that the animal is frightened and stays his hand. Instead, he befriends the creature, naming him Toothless. He soon learns that everything the Vikings thought they knew about dragons is inherently wrong. Hiccup proceeds to excel in the dragon fighting ring, gets the girl (Nico Parker), and earns the respect of the rest of the village. But when his dad returns from searching for the dragon’s nest, will Hiccup prove that dragons are indeed not to be feared?
Double-Edged Sword
On its script and premise alone, the film earns points. It’s an original idea, adapted from the children’s book series written by Cressida Cowell. The screenplay has humor and heart, and viewers will make an instant connection with it. The themes the movie explores (coming of age, father/son relations, proving one’s worth) are relatable to both children and adults. Searching for one’s true worth and finding value in uniqueness are timeless themes. They bring dramatic heft to the proceedings.
But, sadly, the script itself pulls directly from the animated version of the film with little to no variation on anything. The same goes for the cinematic structure, with shots and scenes unaltered. It’s impossible not to compare the two, and our attention goes to one of the few things that differ between the versions: the actors.
Thames is passable as Hiccup, but he doesn’t capture the same sarcastic tone that Baruchel was able to nail in the original. Likewise, the actor playing Gobber (Shaun of the Dead’s Nick Frost) isn’t able to capture the original’s performance either. I know Frost is a veteran actor with talent to show for it, so I don’t believe the fault is entirely his own. Rather, the new film just isn’t able to relay the charm of the animated version. The latter’s ability to add more comical effects to characters and surroundings elevated the material, and the inherent limitations of live-action viewing restrict the humor that can be used.
Empowered Astrid
I do, however, applaud the film for the changes it made to Astrid’s character. In the original, Astrid lacked agency and motivations of her own. She mostly existed as a support character for Hiccup, and we didn’t learn much about her driving force.
In this new adaptation, Astrid is given an extra scene to develop her reasons for striving to reach the top of dragon fighter clan. She has her eye on the position of Dragon Chief and aims to one day take on Stoick’s role. I appreciated this extra dimension of her character. Lines are even changed in later scenes to reflect this alteration.
The other characters are once again heavily archetypal. Fishlegs (Deadpool 2’s Julian Dennison), Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), Ruffnut (Wicked’s Bronwyn James), and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn) are portrayed humorously, but get next to no character development. Do not expect to remember any of their performances once the film has reached its conclusion.
Scenery and Lighting
While the script has little alteration, the shift from animation to live action allows for greater focus on the beautiful landscapes in which the movie was shot. The production was filmed in Northern Ireland, and it is beautiful to see. While some of it comes from a soundstage in L.A., the rest is breathtaking. The sequences with Hiccup riding Toothless are every bit as exhilarating as in the original.
I just wish the lighting wasn’t so dim. For some odd reason, the majority of the movie was dim and muted. The colors didn’t pop like they should. Even in lighter moments, like when Hiccup befriends Toothless, something was off. This robbed the film of both personality and mood.
Paling in Comparison
In conclusion, the live-action production of How to Train Your Dragon fails to live up to its predecessor. By hardly taking any risks, the filmmakers have produced a near carbon copy of the superior original. While the material is solid in and of itself, and minor improvements are made, you would be much better off watching the animated version than this live-action one. It barely justifies its existence. For that, I give the live-action How to Train Your Dragon a score of
Score: 6/10
How to Train Your Dragon is now playing in theatres nationwide.
How To Train Your Dragon | Official Trailer
How To Train Your Dragon – In Theaters June 13 From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.
