DRAGON RIDER
A matter of scales
RELEASED 12 FEBRUARY
2020 | TBC | VOD (Sky Cinema/now TV)
Director Tomer Eshed
Cast Thomas Brodie-sangster,
Felicity Jones, Freddie Highmore, Patrick Stewart
When it comes to animations about kids who befriend dragons, How To Train Your Dragon is the gold standard. Normally you’d avoid drawing attention to such a high-profile rival, but the team behind Dragon Rider clearly didn’t get the email. This adaptation of Cornelia Funke’s kids’ book makes the premiere of a movie called How To Tame Your Dragon integral to the plot – which is just an unfortunate reminder that this really isn’t in the same league.
Set in a modern world where humans have forced the remaining dragons into hiding, it focuses on young outsider Firedrake, who sets out to save his fire-breathing tribe from bulldozers. Along with his chipmunk-like BFF, he hooks up with a teen who pretends he’s the Dragon Rider of legend – and the gang fly around the world on the hunt for a safe haven.
Don’t be fooled by the presence of voice actors like Felicity Jones and Sir Patrick Stewart. Everything else about this movie is second-division, from the cutesy character design to the by-the-numbers script.
What’s more, having mythical creatures communicate via Skype feels like a desperate attempt to get down with the kids – it wouldn’t happen in Berk.
Jimmy Hibbert (homunculus Twigleg) was a regular in/writer for Cosgrove Hall toons like Danger Mouse and Count Duckula.