Anyone who thought that the live action version of “How to Train Your Dragon” would be uninspired or even inappropriate will have to think again: the success of the live-action reboot of the Dreamworks animated masterpiece released in 2010 seems to be guaranteed, even before its release in theaters . This is demonstrated by the first impressions of the press on Rotten Tomatoes, which contradict the detractors convinced that the film would not live up to expectations.

With a base of forty reviews, the title currently boasts an approval rating of 83% . Even among the less enthusiastic opinions, the judgment remains largely positive, with the only criticism of being a “shot for shot” remake, that is, extremely faithful to the original not only in the plot and setting, but also in the directorial choices. A result that promises well for the turnout of the public in the theater, in a challenge at the Box Office that could even displace the box office champion “Lilo & Stitch” from the podium.

The critical acclaim certainly lifts the spirits of the production, and in particular of Dean DeBlois - already author of the animated trilogy - who had expressed concern about the prejudices with which some fans might have welcomed the project. On the occasion of the premiere, the director admitted: «It was the first time we showed it to anyone. I was definitely worried ... actually, I shouldn't say worried; I was confident in the film, but I wasn't sure that the public would welcome it positively. Maybe they are too fond of animated films».

Going into more detail, DeBlois confessed that he feared the film would be perceived as unnecessary: "There's all this talk of 'Why should this exist?' or 'It's too early,' or 'Animated films were great the way they were.' We went in ways that allowed us to flesh out the characters, make the action more immersive, and expand the mythology a little bit."

The decision to return to work on Cressida Cowell's novels, bringing a world of adventure, myth and tradition back to life, was born from the belief that the potential of modern means and the choice of a live-action adaptation could give greater breadth and depth to the original story. Gerard Butler, who returned as the village chief Stoick after voicing the character in the animated version, also spoke about this aspect. The actor said he was struck by seeing himself in costume for the first time, realizing - after having previously worked only on the vocal aspect - how important it was to embody every aspect of the character, even physically: "I wondered how they would make the character in live action. When I saw myself for the first time, I was scared of myself. Who is that? On the one hand, I thought: wow, that's a lot to live up to. You have to live up to it. You can't just put on this and disappoint, you have to live every moment with that beard, that moustache, everything they mean, what the armor means, how he moves, how he expresses himself".