How To Train Your Dragon Movie Review (2025)
An excellent live-action recreation of the original Dreamworks film, How To Train Your Dragon is gorgeous and touching with a truly lovely message.
There are a lot of movies being recreated these days. Movies that were written and produced years ago, either released with brand new actors or the same actors in the same story that’s been tweaked. We’ve also seen the overhaul of animated films being filmed with human actors alongside CGI – some of which have been iffy and others that did a nice job.
How To Train Your Dragon is the recreation of the animated film by Dreamworks that was released in 2010. It is about Hiccup, the son of the leader of a town full of Vikings who continually have to defend themselves against dragon attacks. They have learned about every type of dragon in the area other than the elusive Night Fury, but do not yet know how to keep the dragons from mostly destroying their town and killing the townspeople. When Hiccup comes across a wounded Night Fury dragon that he names Toothless, he learns how to befriend it, what it needs, and, ultimately, they save each other.
This is a lovely film. While I think we can all agree that many of these recreated films are completely unnecessary, this one does its job well. The cinematography is gorgeous, the message is sweet, and the actors do a great job. You also fall in love with Toothless just as much as Hiccup does.
Mason Thames is terrific as Hiccup. He resembles the animated character and he is awkward but strong in very endearing ways. You root for him. There are also some fun supporting characters, including friend and competitor Astrid (played by a fierce Nico Parker) and teacher Gobbler (played by a kind and funny Nick Frost). Then there is Gerard Butler’s leader character who you desperately want to be a better father to Hiccup.
I teared up a few times during this film and then I got chills a few times as well. There is also a flying sequence that is fun, but long and complicated. I saw it in IMAX and I had to look away because it started freaking me out. Let’s just say, I won’t be going skydiving anytime soon and this reminded me why. Keep that in mind if high motion or heights bothers you.
There are a few moments where the CGI looks a little odd (mostly when flying or during action sequences), but for the most part, the transition between animation and live-action is seamless and very close to the original.
The major thing that one takes away from How To Train Your Dragon, though, is the message that there is a way to be happy together. That there are so many more similarities between us all than there are differences. “I looked at him… and I saw myself,” Hiccup says. Queue me getting teary.
While I’m not a huge fan of all of the recreations, this is a really good film. Fit for all ages, I highly encourage you to go see it in theaters and take the family or a friend. You just might get inspired, because, now, I really want to train a dragon.
Runtime: 116 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Yes, I got teary a few times
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Available: Currently in theaters
