Review: "How to Train Your Dragon"

“How to Train Your Dragon” marks the first official live action adaptation of a DreamWorks animated feature. 

It begs the question: Why?

At the top of the list of reasons is the fact that the original “How to Train Your Dragon” (2010) earned $495 million at the box office, worldwide. It was a blockbuster hit that spawned two animated feature sequels, “How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014), and “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” (2019), collectively earning an additional $583 million worldwide, making “How to Train Your Dragon” a billion-dollar franchise, globally.

It's hard to argue with that kind of success.

One must also consider the lucrative live action adaptation industry that Disney has created in recent years. They total nearly two dozen releases including titles like: “The Jungle Book,” “101 Dalmatians,” “Cinderella,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Dumbo,” “Aladdin,” “Lady and the Tramp,” “Mulan,” “Pinocchio” and “The Little Mermaid.”  More recently, “Snow White” and “Lilo and Stitch” were added to the list.   Who knew that live action remakes of animated classics could be so popular?

They make money, otherwise the studios wouldn’t crank them out.  But the question remains as to whether the live action remakes can top the original animated films (often classics) in terms of creativity, appeal and longevity.  Is newer always better?

Granted, special effects and computer-generated visual effects are evolving and improving at a stunning rate.  In many cases the images are photo-realistic, indistinguishable from traditional live action footage.  Indeed, they often surpass actual footage in terms of eye-popping color and impossible, soaring camera movement.

It’s puzzling that filmmakers with that kind of creative power at their disposal take a step backward to the world of live action, particularly in the telling of stories that are pure fantasy and imagination. 

I recall seeing the original “How to Train Your Dragon” when it was released back in 2010, 15 years ago. It was s story aimed at younger audiences, but it was exceptionally well-written and well-produced, from a technical standpoint.  I was impressed. 

The story of a medieval Viking community resonated with issues that mattered, on multiple levels. It was about growing up, discovering who you were, developing a sense of bravery and most importantly trying to understand the true nature of your fears.

The characters were complex and likeable, and the young dragon defied expectations and stereotypes with its big expressive eyes and damaged tail that made it vulnerable and empathetic. The film was a parable about friendship, trust, love and cooperation.

Remarkably, Toothless (the name of the dragon in both versions of the movie, despite the fact that he has visible teeth) looks identical in the original film and the current re-make (live action dragons are hard to cast). The other dragons and epic fantasy locations which comprise most of the film, are also digitally rendered. 

This time around, the humans are played by actors selected to look like the animated characters featured in the original film.  Gerard Butler reprises his stern, father-figure role as the voice of Stoick, now appearing in makeup and costume on camera.

The choice of using actors in a remake like this is a timely one, considering the looming fear in Hollywood that actors will be increasingly replaced by AI-generated characters.  While the decision here is admirable, it won’t change the inevitable, increasing threat of AI in the movie-making industry, from story development, scriptwriting, casting, shooting, editing and scoring. It has everyone nervously and justifiably looking over their shoulders.

In the meantime, the lesson to be learned here is that newer isn’t necessarily better.  While the live action version of “How to Train Your Dragon” will likely do well at the box office (with ticket sales benefitting from the fact that parents accompany their kids) it underscores the question of whether every successful animated feature should be turned into a live action re-make, particularly when that re-make is just another re-telling of the origin story.

In many cases, as in this case, you could argue the filmmakers got it right the first time.

“How to Train Your Dragon’ opens in theaters on June 13.  It is rated PG.