How to Train Your Dragon
June 10th, 2025
MOVIE: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
STARRING: MASON THAMES, NICO PARKER, GERARD BUTLER, NICK FROST
DIRECTED BY: DEAN DEBLOIS
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
Pushing back against Hollywood’s reliance on sequels and remakes has become a tedious task, especially when the summer slate of 2025 is dominated by them. In just a few weeks, we’ve already had a live-action Lilo & Stitch, and now comes How to Train Your Dragon. While there’s always the potential for a new interpretation to justify its existence, even one of the better animated-to-live-action adaptations, like this, struggles to make a compelling case for itself. Ultimately, How to Train Your Dragon (2025) tries to breathe fire—and manages only a mild spark.
Director Dean DeBlois returns to helm the live-action version, which makes sense given he directed the beloved 2010 original. The story begins on the rocky cliffs of Berk, a Viking island where dragons are considered dangerous enemies. Our narrator and protagonist is Hiccup (Mason Thames), the gangly, underestimated son of Stoick (Gerard Butler, reprising his role), the island’s imposing chieftain. Hiccup is nothing like his father—until one of his oddball inventions helps him trap Toothless, a rare and fearsome Night Fury. Their bond becomes the film’s emotional heart, even as the villagers see dragon-friendship as a betrayal.
What works here are the dragons, particularly the special effects, which deliver some genuinely thrilling moments. The approach recalls Jurassic Park in its awe and scale; seeing these creatures soar on a giant screen is worth the ticket. Butler brings a grounded intensity to Stoick, and the flight sequences are truly spectacular. There’s a kinetic energy that many remakes lack, and to DeBlois’s credit, the screenplay remains largely faithful to the original. The familiar jokes and story beats suggest a “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” mindset.
But therein lies the problem. The film’s biggest weakness is its redundancy. This remake offers little new for those who know and love the animated version. That said, my son had the time of his life. He was on the edge of his seat—frightened one moment, laughing the next. The bond between Hiccup and Toothless remains undeniably charming, like a classic boy-and-his-dog tale—only the dog has wings and blazing breath.
Supporting players like Nico Parker (as Astrid) and Nick Frost (as the ever-reliable Gobber) add a touch of depth, and the sets and score do a fine job of bringing Berk to life, even if the film’s color palette is more muted than its animated predecessor.
So yes, How to Train Your Dragon (2025) is mildly entertaining and far from a waste of a family night out. But it never surpasses the original—or even equals it. The animated film remains richer in color, heart, and humor. The live-action version is perfectly serviceable. And maybe that’s the best we can hope for. After all, it’s hard to teach a dragon new tricks.
2 ½ STARS
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON IS PLAYING IN THEATERS THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
