DreamWorks Animation’s much-loved 2010 animated fantasy fable deserved a live-action adaptation, but writer-director Dean DeBlois delivers a poor cover.
Rating: ⭐️💫 (1. 5 / 5)
By Mayur Lookhar
DreamWorks Animation turned a new corner with Shrek (2001). Its success paved the way for a franchise, and over time, it produced more successful animated series such as Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon—each distinct in its setting and flavor. DreamWorks celebrated ancient Viking culture through How to Train Your Dragon, that is loosely inspired by British author Cressida Cowell’s novel of the same name.
A couple of more animated films followed, but they couldn’t really draw the same appeal as the first film. Given how Disney’s reaped some success with live-action films of their classics, it was inevitable that DreamWorks, too, would follow suit. Writer-director Dean DeBlois has remained loyal to the franchise, and only natural that he would tell the first How to Train Your Dragon (2025) live-action film.
Story
You don’t fix what isn’t broken, and DeBlois and DreamWorks wisely stuck to the original plot. To help you recall—or for those new to the franchise—How to Train Your Dragon is set on Berk, a fictional Scandinavian Island inhabited by Vikings and infested with dragons. The Vikings are constantly at odds with the dragons, who seem more interested in stealing their cattle than fighting the people.
Most young men and women are raised to fight dragons, but Hiccup (Mason Thames), the son of chieftain Stoic (Gerard Butler), isn’t even respected by his own father. He’s creative, though, designing new weapons, and one of his inventions even wounds the legendary Night Fury dragon. Still, no one believes him.
Fate brings Hiccup and Night Fury together again, leading to an unexpected bond between human and dragon. Hiccup must keep this friendship a secret to protect the young, feisty, and adorable dragon he names Toothless.
Screenplay & Direction
With an established brand and a script that didn’t need much tweaking, turning the same story into a live-action film shouldn’t have been difficult—especially for someone like DeBlois, who’s been with the franchise since day one. But translating cartoon film into live-action is a different ball game, and that’s where DeBlois struggles to recreate the original magic.
The only new addition is the character Phlegma (Ruth Codd), a calm, phlegmatic presence who adds little to the story and feels largely unnecessary. Beyond that, there’s nothing fresh or surprising. The problem isn’t the plot—it’s the uninspired casting and middling direction that make this feel like a weak live-action cover of a beloved classic.
Acting
In a key scene, Astrid (Nico Parker), frustrated with Gobber’s (Nick Frost) lighthearted approach to training, complains that no one is taking them—the young dragon hunter hopefuls—seriously. Viewers are likely to feel the same frustration, as none of the young leads make much of an impression. A far cry from Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera, the original voices of Hiccup and Astrid in the animated film series.
Mason Thames, Nico Parker, and the rest of the cast certainly look the part, but they lack the heart and presence that made their animated counterparts so memorable. Their tone feels more modern than medieval, and their flat performances make it hard to stay engaged. As the film drags on, you can’t help but feel the actors may have been chosen more for their looks than their acting ability.
Gerard Butler is the only actor from the original voice cast who reprises his role as Stoic, but he, too, is a shadow of his former self.
Technical aspects
With the actors falling short, DeBlois and DreamWorks seemed to rely on their animators to deliver the visual wow factor in their live-action film. Maybe the IMAX version offers a better experience, but the 3D didn’t leave much of an impression. Toothless, aka Night Fury, is still the highlight—and probably the best “actor” since he doesn’t speak. Some of the smaller dragons in Berk are creatively designed, but the big Mother Monster dragon, despite its size, isn’t very intimidating. Honestly, it feels more like a Jurassic-age dinosaur than a fearsome dragon.
Thanks to cutting-edge technology, we’ve seen chilling, thrilling dragon scenes in shows like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and The Hobbit. How to Train Your Dragon is supposed to be a dragon-filled adventure, but DeBlois and DreamWorks don’t quite deliver the same visual excitement in their live-action film.
Final verdict
Beyond the visuals, How to Train Your Dragon was loved for its emotional depth, underdog story, and message of conservation and coexistence. All of that is still there in the live-action film, but it’s disappointing that Dean DeBlois, of all people, couldn’t recreate the same emotional connection. As always, it’s not the dragons but the humans around them who bring these mythical creatures to life. Unfortunately, this live-action version feels more like a lesson in how to ruin your legacy.
Video review to follow.