"How to Train Your Dragon" Earns Three Stars

I very much enjoyed the live-action, three-dimension remake of How to Train Your Dragon, a new take on the beloved 2010 animated classic. The story still centers around Hiccup, a young Viking misfit, and his unlikely friendship with a rare and powerful Night Fury dragon named Toothless.

Courtesy Universal Pictures

"How to Train Your Dragon" is an enjoyable live-action remake of the original animated film. It stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Frost, and Gerard Butler.

Directed by Dean DeBlois and starring Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker as Astrid, and Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick, the film closely follows the original storyline. Like many recent live-action remakes, it begs the question: did we need this, especially when the animated version was already so well-loved? Still, the film makes a solid case for itself with a more diverse cast, expanded world-building, and some truly impressive special effects.

The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless remains the emotional core, and their scenes together are charming. The flying sequences, in particular, are exhilarating on the big screen. However, some of the newly added material-especially the extended training sequences-felt a bit bloated and unnecessary, slightly slowing the film's pace.

Nico Parker brings a fresh energy to Astrid, the fierce Viking warrior and Hiccup's love interest, while Hiccup's bookish, inventive personality remains a fun contrast to his father's gruff warrior mentality. That father-son dynamic still works well in live action but not as good as the other.

It had been a while since I watched the original, which may have helped me enjoy this version without getting caught up in too many comparisons. From what I recall, this remake hits all the major story beats, and while it doesn't surpass the original, it's still a lot of fun and well worth a watch.

The message of trying to learn more about your opponent and understand them rather than fear them to reach some sort of peace always resonates.

The film is currently screening at Eagle Ridge Mall Regal Cinemas 12

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars