#REVIEW: “HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2025)”

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

I had never seen 2010’s How To Train Your Dragon or the subsequent films in the Franchise, quite simply, I never got around to it which is uncharacteristic of me as I love Animated Features. When I heard that Dean DeBlois (Lilo & Stitch) was helming a live-action remake some 15 years later, there was some skepticism from me. However, with absolutely no reference point other than reading up about its plot and premise, I am pleased to say I was very pleasantly surprised. The 2025 live-action How to Train Your Dragon is fantastic family fun that is going to delight everyone from the younger generation to their grandparents. Truly a film for everyone, that makes me want to be a better person.

The Movie focuses on young Hiccup (Mason Thames) as he is determined to prove his father, Stoick (Gerard Butler reprising) wrong and that he is worthy of being a Viking. While things start to heat up and he is constantly told to change everything about himself by his dad and Gobber (Nick Frost), Hiccup joins Astrid (Nico Parker), Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), Fishlegs (Julian Dennison), and Ruffnut and Tufnnut (Browyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn, respectively) to become a dragon slayer.

However, after the dragons attack their village one night, a Night Fury named Toothless attacks and Hiccup sees him crash nearby. After visiting the crash site and carefully befriending Toothless, he realizes that the bond between dragons and Vikings can be fixed and repaired. They don’t have to be at each other’s throats, but instead work together. While slowly trying to earn Toothless’ trust, he realizes he has to bring everyone else on board to side with the dragons otherwise there will never be peace.

Live-action is incredibly different than animated, as a performance is not only reliant on the vocal gravitas of its talent, but must be more demanding and convincing as well. Everyone in the Cast is truly fantastic and makes this live-action remake something truly remarkable and an incredible film that begs for additional installments (the second of which is already confirmed).

The heart and soul of the Movie really rests on the shoulders of Thames and Parker.  The two of them are electric, and share such wholesome and marvelous chemistry with one another. As well Butler and Frost are also great in their respective roles, Howell, Dennison, James and Trevaldywn round-out the Ensemble, creating something surely new and old fans of the animated version will love alike.

How to Train Your Dragon is better than I ever could have imagined, having only heard amazing things about the animated Trilogy, I had high hopes and no point of reference. The heart and soul that is poured into this retelling is evident and DeBlois back at the helm means it was at least in very capable hands. Truly, a remarkable feat in storytelling and marvelous,  heartwarming storytelling.

Universal Pictures Canada release HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON in theaters on Friday, June 13, 2025.