Universal and DreamWorks Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake just screened for members of the press and theater owners at CinemaCon, and the first reactions are glowing.
Attendees were advised that they were about to see an unfinished version of the movie, but a few incomplete VFX shots weren't enough to dull an incredibly enthusiastic response.
We're used to initial reactions for major studio movies being mostly very positive, but critics do tend to be a bit more... let's say forthcoming at these events, as opposed to early press screenings. Even so, we probably won't have a balanced consensus of the movie until the full review embargo lifts.
The How to Train Your Dragon remake was written and directed by Dean DeBlois, who also penned and helmed the original animated trilogy.
Retelling the franchise’s first entry, the live-action reboot follows Hiccup (Mason Thames), a scrawny Viking boy who refuses to follow his tribe’s tradition of hunting dragons. This is much to the chagrin of his proudly traditional father, Stoick (Gerard Bulter), who happens to be the village leader and a legendary dragon butt kicker.
The film also stars Julian Dennison as Fishlegs, Gabriel Howell as Snotlout, Bronwyn James as Ruffnut, Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut and Nick Frost as Gobber.