Typically, predicting whether audiences will embrace a particular film poses a challenge for critics. Each individual’s preferences vary, and it’s unpredictable what will resonate with viewers. However, such is not the case with the live-action adaptation of “How to Train Your Dragon.” Did you enjoy the animated original by the same name? If so, you’ll likely appreciate this rendition, as it mirrors the original in almost every way.

In today’s cinematic landscape brimming with live-action renditions of animated classics, the question often arises: “Is this film necessary?” While this might seem like a banal inquiry — considering no movie really needs to exist — it encourages reflection on whether a film offers anything fresh. “How to Train Your Dragon” … well, it does not. It’s a pleasant enough feature, and perhaps the finest potential version of a live-action take on its animated predecessor. But if you anticipate more than an almost identical shot-for-shot reproduction, you might find it underwhelming.

We first encounter Hiccup (portrayed by Mason Thames, recognizable from his leading role in the chilling “The Black Phone”) as a bit of an outsider in his small Viking village. On the island of Berk — a settlement regularly besieged by marauding dragons — combat is pivotal, and a young man isn’t truly deemed a man until he has slain a dragon. Yet, combat is not Hiccup’s forte, as his father Stoick (played by Gerard Butler, reprising his character from the original movie) frequently points out.

A slight, sensitive, intelligent teen, Hiccup just doesn’t seem to have a whole lot of Viking in him. But things change when he manages to take down a fearsome Night Fury, and even more when he finds himself unable to finish the job and kill the dragon. In time, he and Toothless (the name he gives the Night Fury) become friends, and Hiccup engineers a contraption that will allow the injured dragon to fly again. Berk is a small town, though, and he can’t expect to keep Toothless a secret forever. But what will the Vikings do when they discover the truth about Hiccup’s newfound affinity for dragons?

Aside from Butler, the cast of “How to Train Your Dragon” is entirely new, and for the most part, they bring a lot to the production. Thames is charming — maybe even too charming — in the role of Hiccup, bringing a wide-eyed intelligence and kind-hearted spirit to the character. The film goes a little over the top in reminding us that he’s a screw-up, because he kind of comes across as hero material from the very beginning. He’s a perfect fit for Astrid (Nico Parker), the leader of the younger generation who resents Hiccup’s privileged status within Berk as the son of the chieftain. Astrid’s grudge against Hiccup makes perfect sense within the context of their community, and adds a nice texture to their burgeoning relationship. 

The rest of the crew of young would-be dragon slayers are equally effective — if they’re slightly less funny, the natural side effect of not being voiced by some of our most prominent comedians. As time goes by, there’s a genuine sense of camaraderie that develops between the characters, especially with Fishlegs (Julian Dennison), who is fighting for his life to hide his New Zealand accent but brims with warmth towards his friends.

“How to Train Your Dragon” drags a little bit, especially in the scenes without Hiccup and Toothless as a charming double act. (Although some of the other dragons have received a visual makeover for the live-action version, very little is changed about Toothless’s design, preserving his sweet and cartoonish nature.) However, you have to appreciate the effort that went into creating Berk as a lived-in village, from the detailed Viking horns that look different for each character to the gorgeous seaside vistas shown to particular advantage when Hiccup and Toothless take flight. With its soaring score and commitment to making Berk as grounded as possible, the live-action version of this film feels like a throwback to some of the best fantasy films of the ’80s and ’90s as much as it is a remake of a 2010 animated feature.

And yet, its origins as an animated feature are impossible to ignore, and comparisons pop up at every turn. But if this live-action adaptation had to be made, this is probably as well as it could have gone. Although it’s not particularly adventurous in creating an identity for itself that’s separate from its cartoon forefather, it captures much of the same spirit that made the original film so magical. You might think that Mason Thames is not quite quirky enough to embody Hiccup during his outcast first act the way that an awkward Jay Baruchel did, or that it’s impossible that Gerard Butler got paid twice for doing the exact same, note-for-note, performance as he did in the original. Still, it’s hard not to be charmed by what “How to Train Your Dragon” has to offer.

“How to Train Your Dragon” hits theaters on June 13.