How To Train Your Dragon

Posted June 14, 2025

We were apprehensive about seeing another live action version of an animated classic, but with Oscar nominated Writer/Director Dean DeBlois at the helm, this film is filled with good characters, casting and creative creatures performing thrilling flying acrobatics. Even more importantly, the main Night Fury dragon, Toothless, is beautifully rendered, easy to identify looking so much as the original animated character with soft big glossy green eyes.

DeBlois adapted the story with Chris Sanders for the original animated films of Lilo and Stitch in 2002 for Disney and then in 2010 DeBlois adapted How to Train Your Dragon for DreamWorks Animation from the original children’s novel by Cressida Cowell. DeBlois wrote and directed this live action film himself. Shot in Belfast, Northern Ireland, De Blois had reached out to Peter Deakins who was a consultant on the animated film, but Deakins recommended Bill Pope to be Cinematographer. Many of the shots mirror those in the original animated film. But the action of Toothless with Hiccup and all of the dragons flying high during battle is well done and thrilling to watch. With beautiful landscapes, skies and clouds, plus action with dragon fire on the ground heightens the dynamic quality and movement across the screen.

The film rises or falls on the relationship between the young, compassionate human, Hiccup (Mason Thames – The Black Phone, For All Mankind) and the seemingly dangerous, but smart and eventually trusting dragon, Toothless. Hiccup is a gentle soul. He’s a kid who would rather make friends than war. But he and his Dad are always at odds.

We almost didn’t recognize Gerard Butler as Chief Stoick the Vast. He was the voice of the same character in the animated films. DeBlois almost didn’t get Butler because of a schedule conflict, but Butler jumped at it when the timing on his next movie was moved ahead. Both he and the director were excited about going more in depth with everything in this live action film as they only had 15 months to make first animated one.

Butler plays the macho Viking leader who has devoted his life to ridding the world of their mortal enemy; dragons who attack his flocks and burn villages. The bulked up Butler, with a massive wrap, with a huge scraggily head and beard of crazy red hair. He uses his loud, stubborn gravely voice to order everybody around, especially gentle Hiccup. He wants his son to get tough training with others around his age to become a dragon killer.

Hiccup is nearly outcast by his father and while off on his own, he invents a weapon to take down dragons. When he sees a dragon in the sky, he uses his device and to his surprise it works. While the dragon is on the ground, Hiccup thinks twice about killing the Night Fury. Instead, they slowly begin to forge a sweet friendship. You’ll fall in love with the dragon Hiccup names Toothless and bond of trust they create with each other.

The live action cast even closely resembles their animated counterparts. Astrid ( Nico Parker – The Last of Us) looked to us like a young Zendaya). She is so slight, we didn’t think she’d be strong enough physically for the role, but her all-business, serious, dedicated character makes her very convincing in the role. There’s Gobber, Hiccup’s sympathetic mentor – (Nick Frost – Shaun of theDead, Snow White and the Huntsman), Funny Fishlegs (Julian Dennison-Deadpool) ShenShen (Bronwyn James Wicked),Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn), Phlegma (Ruth Codd) and Spitelout (Peter Serafinowicz).

It’s up to Hiccup and Toothless to rally all against the ultimate threat to his father and their homeland as it emerges from deep inside the Earth. DeBlois with Butler, Thames, and Parker give this new incarnation a lot of heart and make this film a real crowd pleaser with colorful dragons and high flying action. Plus, with the engaging Toothless, you can really sink your teeth into this film.

Universal Pictures 2 hours 5 minutes PG

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