Another remake? Yawn. But hold onto your helmets, because this one… surprisingly breathes fire.
When DreamWorks announced they were giving How to Train Your Dragon the live-action treatment, fans collectively gasped… half in excitement, half in fear. Because let’s be real: Hollywood has a nasty habit of dragging our animated childhoods into the uncanny valley (looking at you, live-action Pinocchio). But plot twist, this one? It’s actually good.
Expect the epic flight scenes, emotional dragon bonding, and the same story you never really got over.
Toothless: The Real Star, As Always
He blinks. We melt.
Toothless shows up looking better than ever: sleek, shadowy, and serving winged menace with a side of “I might kill you but make it cute.” The animators knew exactly what they were doing. One snort and suddenly, we were nine years old and sobbing over animated dragons again.
He’s smart. He’s smug. He’s out here stealing scenes without making a sound. Honestly, if this film had no humans and just 2 hours of Toothless doing dragon things, we’d still be sold.
Hiccup: Still Smart, Now With a Jawline
Mason Thames steps in as Hiccup, and let’s be real – he nailed it. He doesn’t try to be flashy. He just is Hiccup: awkward, brilliant, and one bad idea away from blowing something up.
He talks like he’s always thinking five steps ahead. He walks like he’s never sure where his feet are going. And when he meets Toothless? It’s game over. The chemistry is instant. Better than most rom-coms, to be honest.
Gerard Butler Returns as Stoick – Because Who Else Could?
Having Gerard return as Stoick isn’t just good casting – it’s fate.
The moment he steps into frame, wrapped in fur and Viking gravitas, it all clicks. The voice? Instantly familiar. The presence? Unshakable. The beard? Basically its own character. No dramatic flourishes needed; he just walks in, grunts once, and commands total respect.
There’s a weight to him that feels lived-in. Stoick doesn’t overexplain, he doesn’t overshare; he leads, he stares, and when the rare moment of softness cracks through the Viking armour? Yeah, it hits hard. Gerard knows exactly who Stoick is, and lucky for us, he never forgot how to bring him back.
Astrid: Same Attitude, New Hair
The most noticeable change? Astrid’s no longer blonde. That’s it. That’s the headline.
Performance-wise, not much has changed. She remains sharp, confident, and ready to swing an axe at anything that breathes fire (or talks too much). Nico Parker steps into the role with ease, and while the hair colour stirred up some conversation, her take on Astrid stays true to the original’s spirit: bold, blunt, and not here for your nonsense.
Ruffnut & Tuffnut: Double Trouble, Less Copy-Paste
This time around, Ruffnut and Tuffnut aren’t identical – and it shows. While they still bring the noise and the dragon-fueled mischief, each twin now serves up their distinct flavours of madness.
Ruffnut leans sharper and snarkier, while Tuffnut veers off into full solo-rant territory. Their chemistry has shifted from the fast-paced, finish-each-other’s-insults vibe of the animated version, but the wild sibling energy hasn’t vanished – it’s just more evenly split down the middle.
Final Verdict: Fly or Fry?
The How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake isn’t flawless, but it gets it. It respects the source, takes bold visual swings, and delivers just enough change to make it feel fresh without losing the story’s soul.
If you loved the original, there’s plenty to enjoy here. And if you’ve never been to Berk before? This is a solid first flight!
It’s dragon time! Catch How to Train Your Dragon (2025) in cinemas all over Mauritius.
