How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

How to Train Your Dragon is competent plagiarism. In isolation, it's driven by the protagonist's relationships: an endearing friendship, earned romance, and a father-son conflict that culminates in satisfying arcs. It has proficient themes about otherism. This all buoys a formulaic (though structured) plot. There's setup/payoff, rising action, and charismatic (albeit overly light) acting. However, this script tarnishes its would-be shine by being an inferior retread born out of commercialism. In particular, this drawback directly undermines a story whose main strength is its heart. Consequently, How to Train Your Dragon's reasonable writing carries an unfortunate stink.

How to Train Your Dragon struggles to solidify the effortless tone of its predecessor. Despite its glowing lighting, the cinematography is more defined by muted colors. Its editing provides structure along with overcut set pieces. Genre elements, bookended voiceovers, and some subjective silence fill the soundscape. Though nothing new, its fantasy scoring reinforces the epic setting. The cast contributes fit yet underwhelming fame. Its CGI creates detailed creatures plus wonky environments. Establishing a sense of place when tangible but bland when digital, the production design's realism clashes with its animated roots. Ultimately, How to Train Your Dragon is inconsistent.

Writing: 4/10

Direction: 5/10

Cinematography: 5/10

Acting: 7/10

Editing: 6/10

Sound: 8/10

Score/Soundtrack: 7/10

Production Design: 7/10

Casting: 6/10

Effects: 7/10

Overall Score: 6.2/10

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