How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake Review
Universal’s huge and firey ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ (HTTYD) live-action adaptation soars into cinemas as Mason Thames takes on the role of Hiccup, a young Viking on the island of Berk dealing with the pressure of growing up as Chief Stoick the Vast’s son, oh, and the constant dragon attacks. While disagreeing with the notion that animated films should be remade in the style of live-action, the live-action HTTYD succeeds in capturing the emotional highs and lows of the original animated film, mainly as the remake is very faithful to its source material. Thames and Astrid actress Nico Parker lead the film, helping it to fly to high heights, along with the wizardry that goes into making dragons, Berk, and Vikings come alive.
One thing that the live-action style can do that the animation couldn’t is improve on the size and scale of the story. The attacks land with much more force than in the animation, and seeing it all for “real” amped up the threat of what was going on. This points to the accomplishment in CGI across the film, with the only thing to nitpick was Toothless’ hypnotic trance was hard to detect, and this is something that must be corrected for the sequel as that forms a crucial part of what happens.
Of course the CGI is only part of the film. Costumes from designer Lindsay Pugh managed to give nearly everyone costumes deserving of their character, with the regal Viking garb for Stoick or the light clothes for Astrid’s acrobatics. Hiccup fares worse, as for most of the film he wears a green hoodie made to fit like it was made in Viking times, which is an odd choice. Turning to the real parts of the film, the Isle of Berk feels wetter and rougher than ever, thanks to on-location shooting in Northern Ireland for the home of the Vikings. Sweeping camera shots show off the island in a fantastical way, especially in the moment that Hiccup and Toothless begin to work together as a team and take flight. Producer Marc Platt said he was inspired by ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ to evoke “That exhilaration, that sense of weightlessness, but with dragons.” That inspiration comes through during the flight sequences, with the camera quickly changing to deliver a sense of momentum. Composer John Powell returns, and while his score is largely unchanged from the animation, it raises the emotional moments to towering heights.
Thames is a great Hiccup, and surely has long acting career ahead of him. He perhaps has the hardest job in the film, as he has to act opposite not just the human actors, but also the CGI Toothless. He does this with confidence, convincing the audience that there really is a dragon with him. Parker doesn’t have the same burden to bear in this respect, but has chemistry with Thames as the relationship between Hiccup and Astrid develops.
Taken on its own terms, the live-action HTTYD is great, with strong performances, CGI, story, direction, the works. And there will be people who see this film for the first time, and they’re bound to love it. But this isn’t a film that can be considered purely on its own terms, as it takes an already proven animated story and recreates it in live-action with reverence and only minor modifications. This gives rise to the more cynical feeling that this was just done for the sake of cashing in on a well-known and well loved IP.
For those that already love the animation, how they feel about this adaptation will come down to personal preference, live-action or animation. Though for Universal’s part, this film is just as creatively bankrupt as Disney’s live-action efforts, taking one’s back catalog and remaking it, whilst at the same time subtly implying that the animation kept the film from achieving its true potential. Indeed, the studio missed an opportunity to do a faithful adaptation of the books the IP is based on, which would have created a reason for this film’s existence.
