The new "How to Train Your Dragon" (hitting theaters June 13) falls squarely into this category. Everything's here: Hiccup, Toothless, Vikings, lessons about acceptance and friendship. But something tells us the magic we fell in love with in the 2010 original flew away with the first dragon.
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have given the remake a warm but lukewarm reception. They're calling it "decent," "charming," and even "magical," but increasingly adding one key word — unnecessary. It's that rare case where a movie manages to be both good and pointless.
Source:
imdb.com
ComicBook.com raves about the emotions brought to life, while Film Threat praises the creators for staying true to the original's spirit.
But ComingSoon.net delivers a sharp cut: "It's like asking Leonardo da Vinci to paint the Mona Lisa again."
Some reviewers complain that the story lost its lightness in live-action format. The Guardian calls the actors and sets a "burden" on the plot, while the NY Post points out that the remake "only works when soaring to John Powell's score" — everything else falls flat.
The cast does bring back the old guard. Gerard Butler returns as Stoick (he voiced the character in the animated film). The leads are played by Mason Thames and Nico Parker — fresh faces who might just be the next generation of stars in the making.
For those who've adored Toothless since childhood, this is a trip back to familiar territory — pleasant, but not mind-blowing. For first-time viewers, it might actually work.
Maybe next time we should just leave the classics alone? Earlier on zoomboola.com, we broke down the "How to Train Your Dragon" remake trailer, where Hiccup first meets Toothless.