We’re trying something a little different with our How to Train Your Dragon review. We turned to superfan Shea Bauer – yes, she even watched the film in her homebrew Toothless hoodie – for her opinion of the latest live-action remake to hit our screens, letting the review take the form of an interview.
Before we jump in, though, a little context is necessary. Fantasy adventure How to Train Your Dragon is immediately a little different from other films to make the transition from cartoon (or CGI animation) to flesh and blood. Disney set the trend, with, most recently, Snow White and Lilo & Stitch receiving the remake treatment in the last six months, and Moana lined up for the holiday season. How to Train Your Dragon isn’t Disney. though; it’s an adaptation of the 2010 feature from DreamWorks Animation, itself based on the book series by Cressida Cowell.
Also, unusually, it brings back the original film’s co-director Dean DeBlois to oversee the heartfelt tale of Hiccup (Mason Thames), a physically weak teen Viking who forms a connection with Toothless, a rare Night Fury dragon considered the enemy of his people. Hiccup’s insistence that man and dragon can coexist after years of conflict puts him at odds with his chieftain father Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), but also has the potential to change life forever in the island village of Berk. It’s a concept that the younger generation, including promising dragon hunter and warrior Astrid (Nico Parker), are more receptive to than their elders.
What’s your immediate impression of the film?
The magic wasn’t lost, it was rediscovered. Every recreated screen wasn’t just true to the original; it elevated it. Even the deviations from the original fit the bill – the battles were magnificent – and I think we spied Stoic’s forthcoming dragon for the next film (hopefully).
The remake not only made sense, but it did the original proud, so you can love them both equally.
What did you think about the casting?
The cast were great, particularly Butler revisiting and refining the role he previously voiced in the animated trilogy. That said, Nico Parker as Astrid was PERFECT. Hiccup’s actor did a good job. Not every moment landed, but that could just add up to the awkwardness of the character. But Astrid, Stoick and Gobber (Nick Frost) were the standouts for me.
How was Toothless specifically?
I thought he was incredible. I was a bit worried going into it how they were going to be able to pull off his goofy kitten vibes when he was fully animated, but they managed it. He could still be convincing as a predator and something playful, without looking ridiculous transitioning between them.
Across all the dragons they seem to have made the design less cartoony (starting with smaller eyes). That said, Toothless also seems bigger than in the animated movie. That said, they somehow pulled off making him big enough to be a terrifying weapon, but also his bouncing around Hiccup’s house in excitement.
I’d add that, on a whole, the dragons felt credibly wild and convincing enough to touch. Sometimes, though, when you had a couple of the riders in the same frame/scene, you did get a bit of a green screen feeling.
The problem with remakes and reimaginings is that viewers go in knowing the story, and things can feel a bit “going through the motions” and boring, especially if the filmmakers focus too much on fidelity. Was that the case here?
I think the more serious tone and approach to character development was more thought through this time around, and gave the movie a stronger gravitas (in additional to the EPIC animation of the dragons themselves – I’m still not over it), so I never got bored.
There definitely were some scenes that were true to the original that weren’t perfect, and I wasn’t completely sold on the twins. Those moments could feel a bit tedious at times, but other people in the cinema seemed to find them funny. They were necessary for the overall story and world building, though, so it’s not like they could be excluded.
Could you talk about some of the changes you appreciated in the live-action film?
(Warning: Spoilers in the section below)
I loved the diversity of the Vikings, and how well it integrated with the narrative. It’s a situation of the different Viking tribes – the world’s best dragon fighters – coming together as a result of the dragon hoard, and the need to survive. It all added up storywise, and didn’t feel inauthentic.
Other than that, I keep coming back to how the character development was more considered.
Hiccup’s late mother is talked about more often, I think offering greater insight into Stoick’s motivation to hunt the dragons and their nest. Also, Stoick finding the nest, that was way more intense and scary that in the original.
Astrid, (probably why she was a standout for me), wasn’t just driven to be brilliant and the better Viking. The new film makes a point about the issue of privilege. Hiccup obviously benefits from by being from a founding Viking tribe and a chief’s son, whereas Astrid comes from nothing and is working her way up to become chief. So her being a hardarse on him and everyone else around her makes a lot more sense.
Even Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), not one of my favourite characters in general, has a more developed, less arrogant treatment in the live-action film. His behaviour is shown to be more of a drive for his father’s approval, and he gets it in the end too, which was a nice full circle for them.
Did the film ever lose energy?
No, it flew by. At times I wished I could rewatch the battles scenes with the dragons. Some of those went by too quickly for me to be able to properly appreciate everything on the screen.
Did the length (125 minutes versus the original’s 98-minute duration) feel right?
It was just right.
How To Train Your Dragon was reviewed on IMAX. The film is in South African cinemas from 13 June.