Cast: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Written and Directed ByL Dean Deblois

Original Score By: John Powell

Release Year: 2025

Studio/Streamer: Universal

Audio Description Produced by: media Access Group

Written By:

Narrated By: Leilani Jones Wilmore

What is it?: A live-action remake of the Dreamworks Animation film of the same name, which itself was an adaptation of the book series of the same name. It’s Adaptception. An Adaption of an adaption of an adaption. Hiccup (Thames) is different than the rest of the Vikings, and after a chance encounter with a Night fury, he soon learns that everything Vikings know about Dragons is wrong. Can Hiccup change the hearts and minds of a people who have known nothing but war?

What Works: As a big fan of the original film,I was worried about Dreamworks jumping into the live-action remake game. It has not always worked out for Disney. However, the decision to retain original director dean Deblois is likely why this film works. sure, the argument can be made that he made the same film twice but on a grander scale, but for those who have problems with the live action Disney remakes, perhaps one of them might have been better if the original director had been granted the ability to also direct the live action remake.

I was nervous that Mason Thames couldn’t live up to Jay Baruchel, but the young Black Phone star delivers a strong lead performance that once again proves he’s one of the brightest up and coming talents from his generation. Nico Parker brings a different flavor to Astrid, who has slightly more to do this time around as part of the increase in runtime. And the brilliant decision to continue with Gerard Butler in the same role he voices should pay off in spades for the sequel. Nick Frost is a nice substitute for Craig Ferguson, though many online wonder how he’ll balance shooting the sequel and the new Harry Potter series.

How to Train Your Dragon has entertained families for years, and has stealthily also given a positive message about disabilities not stopping an individual from becoming who they were meant to be. While toothless is the one who carries most of that weight in the first film, there’s still Hiccup’s fate near the end, which is given a bit of an upgrade here. In the sequels, Hiccup is more obvious as disability representation.

While this is so close to the original I love, and that helps bolster the score, it also makes me wonder how many people will choose the live-action one over the animated modern classic. for me, I’ve already seen the animation multiple times, and I think I will be choosing it first. But, for some, the live action aspect makes it feel a little more grown up, so they can say they like the film without losing their cool kid points.

the Audio Description: A lot of really well described sequences, especially flying, and the final battle between the Vikings as the boss dragon. However, the little individual dragons who are not toothless are given really brief details, and there’s no size relativity mentioned. We never really know how much bigger these dragons are than their human foes, or if they vary in size by a little, or a lot. It is a good audio description track, just not a great one.it will get you through the film, but it may not stun you with brilliance.

Why You Might Like it: You’re a fan of the franchise. oddly, a blind audience should be less bamboozled by the trickery of going live action, so I’m not sure how much demand there is for what is essentially a remake. but, it ain’t broken, and they didn’t try and fix it.

Why You Might Not Like it: Dreamworks is jumping into the live action remake game late, and Disney has caused some fatigue here. Lilo and stitch proved to be a monster hit the same year Snow White was a monster flop.

Final thoughts: while the remake benefits from the groundwork of things that came before it, making it a worthwhile experience no matter what, it also can’t top the thing it is remaking. However, Thames, Parker, Butler, and frost all deliver memorable performances that stand out whether they were original voice cast or not.

Fresh: 8.3/10