‘How To Train Your Dragon’ – New look, same charm

In writing this review, I must admit a bit of a bias. The original 2010 animated movie of the same name is near and dear to my heart. As with many other fans across the globe, the story of a social outcast finding kinship with the monster he’s been raised to hate, complete with outstanding action, and a sweeping and epic score, is hard to beat. With that said, any remake has a lot to prove to earn its existence.

Thankfully, I couldn’t help the giant smile on my face from start to finish. As soon as John Powell’s iconic score kicks in over the opening credits, the live-action How To Train Your Dragon is off to the races. The isle of Berk comes to life, under threat of regular dragon attacks that carry a little more weight when the flames are burning real homes. Eager to make a name for himself, Mason Thames’ Hiccup seeks to down the deadliest one of all, soon finding out that these creatures have more to them than meets the eye.

What the film gains in visual drama, it admittedly loses in whimsy. The film’s less tactile elements like Toothless’ adorable expressions don’t present quite as naturally when depicted with realism. Crafting the film so closely to the original doesn’t always resonate, resulting in a feeling of uncanny discordance.

What does work is the development of the relationship between man and beast. The film takes its time in getting the audience to know Hiccup, and gradually strengthens his bond with Toothless in a manner that you can’t help but fall for, even if you’ve seen it before. Another strength of the remake is its development of the story’s secondary characters. The role of Astrid is portrayed by Nico Parker, and she’s given more room to breathe thanks to the film’s extended runtime.

How To Train Your Dragon won’t win over anyone who resents the existence of live action remakes on principle. It’s guilty of many of the same issues that plague the phenomenon but, where the film could have settled for mere imitation, it instead takes the source material and updates it for a new generation. As a fan of the original, I should be wholly against this remake, yet, miraculously, the familiar story beats were presented with such celebration, I couldn’t help but fall in love with it, all over again.

Rating: Big Screen Watch

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.