Parent-Kid Take on the Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon: A Mix of Excitement, Emotions, and Snacks

As a parent who has been covering entertainment for over a decade, I've made it a point to see as many kid-friendly movies as possible since having a child. The latest addition to my list is the live-action adaptation of "How to Train Your Dragon," which has been dominating the box office. In this article, I'll share my experience of watching the film with my 10-year-old daughter and provide a parent's perspective on the movie.

We attended a prerelease screening of the film in IMAX, and it was a great experience. The fire-breathing dragons were right there, and the sound was so superb you could hear every wing flap. The theater was about 50-50 on the adult-to-kid ratio, and my daughter was elated to be there on a school night.

The Casting

Casting humans based on animated characters is tricky, but the filmmakers did well all around. I especially appreciate that voice actors from the 2010 animated film were cast, including Gerard Butler as Hiccup's dad, Stoick. Even if he was too hard on his son until he came around at the end, his performance was spot-on.

I have zero time for the backlash over Nico Parker playing Astrid. She was great as Hiccup's rival turned love interest. As the credits rolled, my daughter said, "Heck yeah," so I feel like the night was a win.

The Scary Bits

My kiddo recommends the film for ages 6 and up. There are intense battles and realistic dragons. There's no onscreen bloodshed, but there are injuries, including Hiccup joining many of his Viking peers losing a limb. No bad words stood out.

The Dead Parent

Yes, Hiccup's mom. The backstory is that she was killed by a dragon, fueling Stoick's drive to extinguish them. This adds an emotional layer to the story that parents may appreciate.

The Romance

I liked Hiccup and Astrid's friendship and their "give peace a chance" vision. They shared a kiss or two, but it was more about them working together, and the romance was not a distraction. My daughter's take? "Cute." No further notes.

The Credits

We waited (and waited!) for some fun post-credit moment, but there was only a one-second flash of Hiccup's drawing of Toothless. It's a tease that the story continues (a sequel was previously announced), but it was a non-moment.