Good news - on a Monday!
The latest live-action remake of a family favourite is among the genre's best. There's plenty here for lovers of author Cressida Cowell's books and the animated movies they inspired, new arrivals to the franchise, and adults who find kids' films, well, a bit of an ask. Indeed, any grown-up whose factory settings see the Land of Nod beckon on a trip to the cinema should be pleasantly surprised by this summer treat, a gift on a plate for Tourism NI.
The perfectly cast Mason Thames plays Hiccup, the misfit son of Viking chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, now larger than life as he reprises his voice role from the original trilogy). Written off by his entire village, Hiccup ends up teaching everyone a thing or two when he befriends Toothless, a downed dragon who shows the teenager that all is not as it seems...
From the get-go, HTTYD gets right into the action and avoids Jenga-ing the story with endless details and exposition. There's as much heart here as there is excitement, and if anyone knows this IP and what to do with it, it's director Dean DeBlois. He co-directed the first Dragon outing with Chris Sanders and then helmed the two sequels. He also co-directed the original Lilo & Stitch with Sanders. That's a lot of feels for one CV.
With over $50 million spent before filming even began in Belfast and along the North's coast, this is an adventure where you can truly see where the money went. The effects are excellent, the sets are stunning, and the real-life scenery is as much a star as the charming Thames, rowdy Butler, and winning supporting cast that includes Nico Parker - daughter of actor Thandiwe Newton and director Oliver Parker - as the effortlessly cool warrior Astrid. Top jobs in front of and behind the lens abound.
How to Train Your Dragon could have done with a couple of standout laughs, but that's the only niggle. They can right that in the recently announced sequel. Hurry up, June 2027!
