By this point, we’ve seen scores of animated films translated into a live action film. Sometimes that works beautifully. Sometimes it falls short of expectations. While we’ve seen Disney do it a lot in recent years, now others are getting involved.

How to Train Your Dragon was a key piece of Dreamworks Animation. It spawned two sequels and a legion of fans. Now, it’s getting the live action treatment. It comes from the same writer and director, Dean DeBlois, and even has one of the same stars. But this version aims to bring the story to life in a new way for a new generation of viewers.

We’re introduced to the Isle of Berk, where Vikings live and battle dragons. They Vikings are led by Stoick (Gerard Butler), a fierce warrior who aims to end this war no matter the cost. His biggest liability is his son, Hiccup (Mason Thames), who is a laughingstock. He wants to please and impress his father, but he’s built different.

Soon, Hiccup comes across a rare Night Fury, a dragon so elusive it’s never been seen. But rather than become a dragon slayer, he sets it free. More than that, he makes a friend. Soon, Hiccup and Toothless, the Night Fury, develop a partnership. It helps Hiccup learn more about dragons, which helps him excel in a series of training activities.

But Hiccup doesn’t want to kill dragons like his father—and the rest of their village. He wants to help them, and in doing so help his people and his community. He finds an ally in a fellow young warrior, Astrid (Nico Parker). But can they convince everyone to change their ways before it’s too late?

The original animated film was released in 2010, 15 years ago now. This new film is faithful to that original story, building it as a rich, live action world. With a sequel already in development, it’s poised to become a live action franchise just as it was once an animated franchise. And for fans of the world, or those who like these type of stories, this will be a serviceable and fun time at the theater.

This is a faithful adaptation, following the story and characters from its source material. Toothless is brought to life well and the film literally soars when Toothless and Hiccup are together. I especially enjoyed the flying sequences. I also enjoyed the training sequences. It’s not a revolutionary or particularly original film, but it does a nice job of bringing this story to life in a new way.

Thames does a nice job of taking on the lead role. His back-and-forth with Toothless works well. He also has good chemistry with Parker, who does a nice job as Astrid. I appreciated Butler in the role of Stoick, a part he played with flourish in the animated films, too. I also enjoyed Nick Frost as Gobber.

This is a fun film that has some good visuals. It feels a little darker and more intense as a live action film, but it follows the template from the animated film and is a fun ride on the big screen. This will be a nice addition to the landscape for those looking for a fun family outing at the movies this summer.

How to Train Your Dragon is in theaters nationwide on Friday, June 13.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.