^{Credit: Universal Pictures}

Most of Disney’s live-action remakes have followed the exact same blueprint as their animated counterparts, yet they still somehow got the characters, stories, and messages wrong. The results call to mind an artist tracing over another’s work. DreamWorks’ foray into live-action remakes is a unique case, as it brings back one of the original directors. It’s been fifteen years since Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders gave us the original How to Train Your Dragon. DreamWorks was going to remake the 2010 classic with or without DeBlois. So, you can’t blame him for watching to be involved. While DeBlois essentially traces over his own movie, it isn’t a crudely drawn recreation. At least that’s more than can be said about the remake of Lilo & Stitch, another DeBlois-Sanders joint.

Recapping the story seems pointless, as there are few significant changes, even by live-action remake standards. That said, the filmmakers likely won’t get an earful akin to “Nani abandoned Lilo.” There’s nothing here that betrays the first film. In fact, the remake does a fair deal right, from the sweeping aerial sequences to John Powell’s uplifting musical score. The problem is that DeBlois already did all of this perfectly, leaving us to question why the remake needs to exist outside of promoting the Isle of Berk at Universal Epic Universe. It presents an interesting quandary: would you rather watch a remake with changes that backfire or a remake that plays it safe with no changes?

How to Train Your Dragon falls into the latter group, but this is still a timeless story from someone who clearly understands the source material. You never get the sense that DeBlois is phoning it in. The actors aren’t on autopilot either. Gerard Butler, who received an Annie nomination for his voiceover work in the first film, reprises his role as Stoick the Vast. While Butler initially looks like he’s cosplaying in Viking gear, his natural charisma goes a long way in making us forget about the silly getup. As powerful as the original’s character animation was, seeing Butler’s face does help this remake stand out. So does the casting in general.

Like Craig Ferguson before him, Nick Frost brings humor and warmth to Gobber. Nico Parker, who made her film debut in the live-action Dumbo remake, is much more charismatic here as Astrid. What ultimately tipped the film in my favor was Mason Thames as Hiccup. It’s only been three years since The Black Phone, but this kid is growing up fast. Thames is still believable as a whippy teenager slowly but surely becoming a man, learning to fight for what he knows is right. He might not sound like Jay Baruchel, although his voice admittedly worked better in animation. Does this story work better in animation, though?

Yes. This is reflected in Toothless’ design, which was clearly meant for a fully animated environment. Even so, the CGI on Toothless remains expressive and Thames convinces us that this cartoon dragon is there. By the time we get to the climax, we are genuinely invested in Hiccup, Toothless, and the people of Berk, even if we know what’s going to happen. Like Hiccup, this remake begins awkwardly, but finds its footing by the end. Even if it doesn’t soar above its predecessor, the performances, cinematography, and DeBlois’ direction help this How to Train Your Dragon feel like more than a cash grab (even if that’s basically what this is).