‘How to Train Your Dragon' hiccups into live action

Boston Globe

a day ago

So, Toothless returns to the screen just in time for the 15th anniversary of his first appearance. And this time, he's interacting with entire actors rather than just their voices. One of those voices, Gerard Butler, reprises his role as dragon-hating Viking chieftain, Stoick. Also on board is Dean DeBlois, who co-wrote and co-directed the original film with Chris Sanders. DeBlois also directed the sequels, and wrote and directed this one.
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Night Fury dragon, Toothless in Universal Pictures' live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon.' (Universal Pictures)
Universal Pictures
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He also co-wrote and co-directed (with Sanders) the original 'Lilo and Stitch.' The
Nostalgia is also pure evil, at least where current cinema is concerned. Creativity has become increasingly stifled. I'm constantly telling you that, regardless of quality, these remakes are unnecessary and cynical cash grabs. Plus, a studio best not tinker too much with the plot or the look of the movie it's remaking, or there will be blood. Just look at the
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Toothless stans will have no such complaints with 'How to Train Your Dragon.' Despite being 30 minutes longer than its source material, this is almost a shot-for-shot recreation. Toothless makes a seamless transition as well. He still has the big, expressive eyes and endearing yet oddly shaped head. He also has the broken tail that will be a major plot point.
Night Fury dragon, Toothless, and Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures' live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon.' (Universal Pictures)
Universal Pictures
The outdoor cinematography by Bill Pope ('The Matrix') is gorgeous, capturing the ragged cliffs and vast waters of Berk, the Viking town where Stoick and his son, Hiccup (Mason Thames), live. However, the opening battle between human and dragon is woefully underlit. The flying scenes, while occasionally thrilling and always vertiginous (especially in IMAX), worked better in the animated version.
The plot remains the same here. Dragons and Vikings have been mortal enemies for generations. Fiery battles are common every season, with people like Gobber (Nick Frost) losing limbs or getting scarred during run-ins with the beasts.
According to the townsfolk, Hiccup is a screw-up who will never become the great fighter and leader his father is. Deemed weak, he's relegated to building contraptions as Gobber's blacksmith apprentice. But during one Viking raid on the dragons, Hiccup thinks he's struck a Night Fury dragon with a gigantic bola. Of course, no one believes him, and he doubts himself until he finds an injured Toothless.
Rather than fry him to a crisp, Toothless spares Hiccup and the two form a friendship. The apprentice builds a prosthetic tail for his scaly buddy to help him fly again. As a thank you, Toothless flies Hiccup all over the countryside.
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Mason Thames in 'How To Train Your Dragon.' (Universal Pictures)
Universal Pictures
Since no Viking has ever attempted to understand dragons, let alone ride one, Hiccup's newfound, nonviolent knowledge of the creatures helps him in the mandatory Dragonslayer sessions everyone expected him to fail. This stokes the ire of Astrid (Nico Parker), the presumed best student in the class.
Hiccup's impressive success also makes him a celebrity among his peers. These are teens with names like Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), Ruffnut (Bronwyn James), and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn). They more or less resemble their animated counterparts, both in attitude and appearance.
As with most movies about fathers and sons, Stoick finds himself at odds with his kid. He treats Hiccup like damaged goods, especially when he discovers his progeny would rather befriend dragons than behead them. Of the human actors, Butler is most successful at bringing his character to life.
13toothless - Gerard Butler as Stoick in Universal Pictures' live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon.' (Helen Sloane/Universal Pictures)
Helen Sloane/Universal Pictures
Perhaps his history of voicing Stoick gave Butler a full understanding of the man, and that translates very well to this iteration. He brings a jovial humor to his scenes with Frost (who is also good here) and has a few moments that are surprisingly moving.
One of the lines I'm glad the new film kept was Hiccup's explanation that he saw himself in Toothless, that they were both 'broken.' Though his line readings are not as snarky as Jay Baruchel, who originated the role, Thames convinces us of the emotional bond he has with Toothless.
I'm on the fence here. I enjoyed the animated version of this movie quite a bit, so I'm torn between being happy this film was nowhere near as bad as I'd expected, and being frustrated that I sat through a carbon copy. Your enjoyment will depend on whether your Toothless nostalgia has a full set of teeth.
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★★1/2
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
Written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Starring Gerard Butler, Mason Thames, Nick Frost, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn. At AMC Boston Common, Landmark Kendall Square, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport, AMC Causeway, suburbs. 125 min. PG (violence)
Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.