A One Mann’s Movies review of “How To Train Your Dragon” (2025).
I have not one, but two personal connections to the new, live-action reworking of 2010’s animated hit “How To Train Your Dragon”. First up, this was largely filmed in Titanic Studios, right next to where I used to work in Verint’s Belfast offices. Secondly, and much more importantly, Andrea Ware, who plays Burnheart the Viking in the film, was my daughter Jenn’s best friend while growing up. I was worried I was going to have to be tactfully nice in this review. But I needn’t have worried… it is really good anyway!
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“How To Train Your Dragon” Plot:
On the Isle of Berk, the Viking people are in constant battle with a nest of marauding dragons. Hiccup (Mason Thames) is the son of the great Viking warrior chieftain Stoick (Gerard Butler), but nothing like him. Whereas Stoick wants to kill the dragons, Hiccup believes there is a different way.
Certification:
UK: PG; US: PG. (From the BBFC web site: “Mild threat, scary scenes, violence, language.”)
Talent:
Starring: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Murray McArthur, Peter Serafinowicz, Andrea Ware.
Directed by: Dean DeBlois.
Written by: Dean DeBlois. (Based on the book by Cressida Cowell and the original Dreamworks Animated film by William Davies, Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders.)
Running Time: 2h 5m.
“How To Train Your Dragon” Summary:
Positives:
- A really nicely paced family film: a story with real heart.
- Great special effects.
- A stirring music score by John Powell.
- Nicely judged central performances by Mason Thames and Nico Parker.
- Andrea Ware is, of course, brilliant!
Negatives:
- Some of the dialogue is a bit mumbled and difficult to hear in the mix.
Review of “How To Train Your Dragon”:
Is it as good as the original? I’ve no idea!
I am hearing that this film is literally a ‘carbon copy’ of the original Dreamworks animated version from 2010 so (to quote Mark Kermode) “What’s the point?” I really can’t answer to that since I’ve never seen it. Like the original of “Lilo and Stitch“, these were in that window between my kids and my grandkids that didn’t make me interesting in watching animations aimed at children. So I have to just judge this on its own merits. And I have to say, as an action/adventure family film, I think it was done very well.
A Wholesome story.
For starters, we have a story that feels wholesome and worthwhile. Hiccup doesn’t believe in violence and tries to pursue alternative approaches to rectify situations using his brain rather than his brawn. (Couldn’t we all do with a bit more of that in the world at the moment?) He would LOVE to win the affections of the fair warrior-maiden Astrid (played by Nico Parker) but he appreciates he’s a bit of a geek and not likely to achieve that. He is desperate for the approval of his father, but that feels about as far off as Astrid’s love! The stage is set for some excellent turning of the tables, and the film delivers that in spades.
There’s also quite an interesting take on ‘physical disability’ that is worth noting that might have an impact in a positive way on the outlook of kids.
Action that will thrill the kids.
We also have some well-staged action sequences, although for adults the battles may feel a bit one-sided…. like a set of ants bravely marching towards a vacuum cleaner! There’s lot of fire breathing and village burning and little in the way of visible gore to upset younger children, although the ‘big boss’ dragon, that is revealed at one point, is a scary sight and might disturb younger children. (All kids are different, but I would have thought an age of 7 and up might be best suited for this one.)
Great special effects.
Given that the sets were built in the lot next to the Belfast Titanic Studios they look pretty amazing on screen and are a credit to the British production crews that created them.
All of the special effects were pretty decent with scenes of soaring on the back of dragons reminding me of the wonderful “Avatar” ride at Disney Animal Kingdom. A scene where hundreds of dragons emerge from a mountain reminded me of that phenomenal space battle scene in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”. Terrific stuff.
Cute couple.
Mason Thames and Nico Parker are cast perfectly for their respective roles with Thames being suitably geeky as Hiccup and Parker being suitably gorgeous and kick-ass as young Astrid. They really do make for a very cute and believable couple. Mason Thomas was the star of the hugely successful Blumhouse hit “The Black Phone” from 2021 – a breakout role for him. Nico Parker launched her career with another animation-to-live-action film, Disney’s “Dumbo”, but made my ‘one to watch’ list for her starring role in last year’s “Suncoast“. But she will be more well-known, to UK audiences at least, for playing the impossibly gorgeous and perfect nanny Chloe in “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy” earlier this year.
Elsewhere, Gerard Butler (who was the voice of the original Stoick from the first film) has a lot of grouchy Viking fun stomping around and bellowing like Brian Blessed a lot. Nick Frost adds comic relief as Gobber the Blacksmith, with interchangeable add-on limbs depending on the requirement!
But of course, top acting credit needs to go to Andrea Ware playing Burnheart! She gets a few good lines in the start of the film, a lot of dramatic reaction shots stood next to Gerard Butler…. but we need more Burnheart in “How To Train Your Dragon 2”!!!
Great music.
John Powell, composer of the original films, returns for this one and delivers a stirring score. The music accompanying the dragon flights is quite brilliant and sets your heart soaring as much as the visuals.
Muffled dialogue
One of my only criticisms would be that some of the dialogue, particularly that of some of the Vikings in the action scenes is indistinct and muffled. Some of it was competing against a lot of sound effects and music, so I think some tweaking of the sound mixing was required.
Summary Thoughts on “How To Train Your Dragon”
I enjoyed this one a lot, and I can’t say that about many of the animated to live-action knockoffs. This film had real heart and should do good family business over the summer holidays. Recommended.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “How To Train Your Dragon”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22w7z_lT6YM.
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