How to Train Your Dragon, the beloved tale of unconventional Viking teen Hiccup, adorably misunderstood dragon Toothless, and the remote Isle of Berk, has been given the live action treatment — 15 years after the first film hit cinemas. A longtime rewatch favourite, Dean Dublois and Chris Sanders' adaptation of Cressida Cowell's novels earned both personal household praise and multiple Oscars. And now, among the wave of live action adaptations flying out of Disney, from Lilo and Stitch to The Lion King, Dreamworks is entering the arena.
How does the live action How to Train Your Dragon fare in comparison to the original? With Dublois back behind the wheel here, it's almost impossible to separate the two, with shot-for-shot sequences, Gerard Butler mightily rendering his voiced role in person, and John Powell returning with that treasured score. Though not reinventing the wheel, the film manages to recreate the magic of the original through impeccable visual effects, faithful cinematography, and intricate production design.
Fans, if you've missed the Isle of Berk, it's time to revisit.
How to Train Your Dragon is almost shot-for-shot identical to the original
If you're going into How to Train Your Dragon expecting a highly different film from the original, it's adamantly not that. Dublois and production designer Dominic Watkins have made some subtle tweaks here — the design of the formidable Red Death dragon; the intricate, rustic detail of the Viking village and its massive longhouse (the animated Berk is more polished); and some of Dublois' dialogue — but for the most part, the film intentionally goes shot-for-shot, line-for-line with the original film. How to Train Your Dragon wouldn't be the first live action adaptation to do this, with Disney knowing very well where to anchor their money-shot IP (Ariel's iconic hair flick in The Little Mermaid will not be changed, thank you). However, the similarity might polarise viewers, whether you're hoping to see such replication or seeking something more.
Arguably the most famous scene from the franchise, Toothless and Hiccup genuinely connecting for the first time through a hand-to-snoot boop, is faithfully recreated down to the very last detail — and it's simply beautiful to watch in live action (though it was frustratingly included in the trailer). Wearing the pressure of such iconic moments with grace, The Black Phone's Mason Thames is well cast as beloved protagonist Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, nailing the awkward physicality, empathy, and wise-cracking nervousness of Berk's least Viking-like Viking.
Alongside Thames, The Last of Us' Nico Parker finds her own kickass interpretation of dragon-fighting ace Astrid Hofferson (originally voiced by America Ferrera), consistently frustrated by Hiccup's privilege and casually crushing dragon teeth with her double-handed axe. Nick Frost takes up the mantle of Craig Ferguson-voiced blacksmith Gobber the Belch, bringing his own signature comedy stylings to the role. As for our banter-laden group of hopeful Viking dragonslayers, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn give fun, snappy performances as the not-so-battle-ready teens of Berk.
But if you can find an actor having more fun in this adaptation than Gerard Butler, I'll eat my Viking helmet.
No one seems to be having a better time in How to Train Your Dragon than Gerard Butler
Decked out in enormous Viking garb by costume designer Lindsay Pugh (including one of those myth-busted two-horned helmets), Butler seems to relish every scene he's in as Berk's mighty chieftain, Stoick the Vast, a role he voiced for all three How to Train Your Dragon movies.
In full Viking "This is Sparta" mode without the blood spatter, Butler roars through Stoick's familiar lines and grandiose "when I was a boy…" speeches while being magnificently magnified through Bill Pope's tightly framed cinematography. When Butler's Stoick gets awkward, it's hilarious; when he goes into battle mode, it's impressive as hell, roaring lines like, "Let's send these devils back to Hell!" with all the gusto we expect. Butler thrives in the visual splendour of the live arena, surrounded by some impressive action sequences both within Gobber's dragon-fighting arena and out on the battlefield.
And it's this visual challenge of How to Train Your Dragon that sees the live action soar.
How to Train Your Dragon boasts spectacular visual effects, bringing Toothless to life
Probably the element of How to Train Your Dragon fans will be most keen to see is the rendering of the various dragons themselves, including the world's cutest Night Fury, Toothless. Using rideable puppetry and visual effects from Framestore, How to Train Your Dragon crafts impeccable versions of the franchise's mythical beasts. Framestore — who've worked on a string of the Disney live action films including The Little Mermaid and Snow White, as well as plenty of MCU films alongside the likes of Wicked, Gladiator II, Paddington — really showcases its skills in this project, particularly through the animation of Toothless.
Essentially, Toothless is magnificent in live action. Every scale glimmers, every muscle moves, and the franchise's beloved dragon's signature expressiveness shines through every scene. Supported by a heartfelt performance from Thames, who is essentially working with a puppet, the Hiccup-Toothless friendship of all friendships is lovingly rendered.
How to Train Your Dragon sees Dublois sticking like glue to his original film, which exposes the franchise's timelessness in a way. If you've dreamed of seeing a version of Toothless living, breathing, and gobbling fish in a real world (on screen), the live action adaptation is a treat.
How to Train Your Dragon hits cinemas in the UK June 9 and in the U.S. June 13.
