How to Train Your Dragon
Review by Ryan Michael Painter
I’ll always look back on 2010’s How to Train Your Dragon with a warm sense of nostalgia. It was one of the first films I reviewed professionally and was I afforded the opportunity to have a wonderful conversation with co-writer/co-director Chris Sanders where we discussed the nuances of making a film in 3D. I’d go on to enjoy the sequels and even watched a handful of episodes from the spin-off streaming series. I suppose that makes me a fan.
I have mixed feelings when it comes to adapting animated films into live-action movies. There aren’t any rules that I subscribe to. Generally, I don’t think they are necessary. Still, I like what I like.
**NOTE: You can read Ryan’s review below, then listen or watch as he and Mark discuss the film in more depth. Remember, though, you can listen to all our discussions of this and every other movie directly over on ACAST. Stay tuned.**
125 Minutes, Rated PG
Written by Dean DeBlois, Cressida Cowell, William Davies
Directed by Dean DeBlois
Synopsis:
As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.
Hiccup (Mason Thames) would very much like to be every bit the dragon that his father Stoick (Gerard Butler) is. Deep inside Hiccup knows that will never happen. Still, Hiccup tries. He tries and fails. Then, during an intense dragon attack, Hiccup is able to bring down a legendary Night Fury dragon. Hiccup, unable to kill the dragon, befriends him instead. This goes against everything he has ever learned or felt about dragons. Nonetheless, he names his dragon Toothless and unbeknownst to himself sets out on a journey that will reshape the world of the Vikings and dragons alike.
I’ve always been drawn to stories where violence is replaced by something more heroic. I’m even more of a fan of stories about young people who want to make their parent(s) proud of them without sacrificing who they are. More to the point. They make their parent(s) proud by being who they are. Even if they don’t fit the mold that they were asked to fill. Hiccup wants to be a lot of things. Most of those things are beyond his ability. In the end, being the best version of himself turns out to be better than all the things he originally hoped for.
I haven’t watched the original film in at least a decade. The story, as I remember it, is largely the same. The live-action version is roughly 30 minutes longer. Seems a little excessive. It doesn’t feel that way while watching the movie. It doesn’t drag. You could trim a few shots here and there. Some of the action was probably extended. It works for me.
I do find the live-action versions of Ruffnut (Bronwyn James) and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn) to be far more annoying than their animated versions. Cartoonish behavior Is apparently more acceptable when it is animated. It’s not a criticism. Hiccup’s other peers, Snotlout (Gabriel Howell) and Fishlegs (Julian Dennison) are hard to stomach as well. Again, that’s a function of the writing.
This brings up an interesting point. Following the screening, several people commented on how much scarier the live-action film was when compared to the animated. This was also the case with Disney’s The Jungle Book and Lion King. When you strip away the barrier of animation and present something as real it inevitably becomes frightening, annoying, grotesque, and occasionally more comical. I, as a child and as an adult, appreciated a good scare. You know your child (or self), plan accordingly.
I enjoyed the film. I’ll want to see it in 3D to see if it can match the breathtaking aspects of the original. There were few films that did 3D right. Most films used it as an afterthought, for How to Train Your Dragon it was a part of the process from the very beginning.
As good as the original? Maybe not, Pretty good anyway.
How to Train Your Dragons is now in theaters and stars Mason James, Gerard Butler, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Browyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn.
And remember, if the BEST thing you can say about a movie is that it’s “visually stunning,” then they’ve done something wrong.
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