A Night at the Movies: How to Train Your Dragon — A Dadass Review

In June, Tuckerman and I got the chance to do something pretty epic: attend a special pre-screening of How to Train Your Dragon at AMC Dine-In Easton, nearly a week before it hit theaters on June 13. But what made it next-level cool for a five-year-old (and let’s be honest, his dad too)? We were gifted VIP seats by the fine folks at Universal. Two red velvet thrones in the skybox of imagination, and Tuck soaked it in like royalty on dragonback.
Instead of popcorn, Tuck came fully prepared with a root beer and a movie snack of champions: Gummy Life Savers.

From the moment the movie roared to life, he was in it. No fidgeting. No whispering. And a record low of only one bathroom break through the entire movie. For those keeping score at home, that's basically toddler gold-star status. The CGI was so good that I found myself briefly questioning whether dragons might actually exist. Seriously. If one had swooped in over Easton afterward, I would’ve just nodded and whispered, “I knew it.”

The film itself? Pure dragon-riding magic. As the kids say, it was fire (from a fire breathing dragon of course!). The kind of story that pulls you in, lifts you up and makes you feel like a kid again — even if you're pushing 40 and usually the one buying the tickets. It delivers everything you want from a HTTYD film: rich visuals, heartwarming moments, action and just enough nostalgia to make longtime fans smile.

Also, real talk: I haven't enjoyed seeing Gerard Butler act this much since P.S. I Love You… err… I mean Olympus Has Fallen (yeah, that’s the one I meant).

Now, let’s talk about “the kiss.”

Tuckerman has seen the original. He knew the kiss was coming. In fact, as the movie crept toward its final moments, I could sense his tension building — like he was bracing for a dragon battle of his own. When it finally happened (yes, just one kiss, at the end), he sighed, slumped back and groaned, "There was too much kissing."

To him, hard pass. He’s here for dragons, fire and action — not smooches.

Would I recommend it?
Without hesitation. Whether you’re a die-hard HTTYD fan or introducing your little dragonrider to the series for the first time, this film checks all the boxes. It’s bold, beautiful and packed with enough heart and action to keep both parents and kids fully immersed — Gummy Life Savers optional, but highly recommended.
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Final Dadass Rating:
 / 5 Dragons
(Minus half a dragon for the traumatic kiss ending — Tuck’s rules, not mine.)

-Matt Lofy, The Dadass