Episode four of the Top 25 of 2025 lineup brings Cade and Kit into the sci-fi/fantasy category with the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon. Cade sold the category as something Kit would enjoy, but once she realized it was still very much a kids movie with dragons, she felt a little tricked. Still, with strong audience numbers (77% critics / 97% audience on Rotten Tomatoes), it clearly landed well with families.

The story follows Hiccup, the inventive but awkward son of a Viking chief who leads a village known for slaying dragons. While his father wants him to become a strong dragon hunter like everyone else, Hiccup is more of an engineer than a warrior. During a dragon attack, he captures a rare and mysterious dragon but chooses not to kill it. Instead, he begins secretly caring for it and eventually names it Toothless. Through observation and experimentation, he discovers that dragons aren’t the monsters everyone believes them to be—they’re simply being forced to steal food for a larger dragon that threatens them.

As Hiccup trains with other young Vikings to become dragon slayers, he quietly applies what he’s learned from Toothless to outsmart the dragons without harming them. Eventually, his secret is exposed, and the village launches a full attack on the dragons’ nest. When the plan backfires and unleashes the massive dragon controlling the others, the kids step in—teaming up with the dragons to save the village and prove that coexistence is possible. By the end, the village transforms its relationship with dragons, and Hiccup’s ingenuity changes everything.

Kit points out that the film’s biggest strength is how well the CGI dragons interact with the live-action actors. The animation blends seamlessly with the real environment, making the dragons feel like believable creatures rather than obvious digital additions. She also highlights the strong casting choices—especially the kids—who manage physical fight training, action scenes, and believable character performances while acting against creatures that weren’t physically there.

Both hosts also appreciate the messages layered into the story. For younger viewers, it’s about being yourself, trusting your instincts, and questioning what everyone else assumes is true. For older viewers, themes of empathy, intelligence, and teamwork stand out. Cade also notes a meaningful moment near the end when Hiccup loses part of his leg in battle and later receives a prosthetic—mirroring Toothless’s injured tail and reinforcing the idea that strength doesn’t come from perfection but from adapting and supporting each other.

While they recognize the film’s craft and messaging, they agree it’s clearly aimed at a younger audience—likely around the 8–13 age range. Cade describes it as easy, wholesome viewing that doesn’t require deep analysis, while Kit notes that her older child stayed engaged but her younger one struggled with the longer runtime.

In the end, Cade lands at a 2.5/5, saying he enjoyed it but doesn’t feel the need to revisit it. Kit initially leans toward a 2, but ultimately agrees to meet in the middle, bringing their final shared score to 2.5 out of 5—a solid, family-friendly fantasy that works well for kids and pre-teens, even if it didn’t fully win them over as adult viewers.

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2kaH2BpUcEouX5LWCUQ7ed?si=ff1e2b355c5944e1

🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cade-and-kit/id1771553610

📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/cadeandkit

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