How to Train Your Dragon

DreamWorks finally seems to be getting the clue. You can't just put some talking animals and throw in slap stick comedy and hope for the best. With Pixar becoming one of the most important studios in Hollywood you better make sure your animation movies also have some story to it. They did it recently with Kung Fu Panda and they do it here with How to Train Your Dragon.

How to Train Your Dragon follows the story of Hiccup, voiced by Jay Baruchel, who doesn't have it in him to follow in the tradition of his village and slay dragons. He is ostracized by his peers and his father Stoick the Vast, voiced by Gerard Butler, the chief of the village.

The movie looks like its going to be a mess as the movie opens with a hectic battle sequence that includes a voice over with bad jokes. It has all the makings of just another kids movie, but as the character progresses we see that the story follows a different archetype, the story of a boy and his dog. Hiccup's dog in this case is one of the most feared dragons in the village, one which has never been seen, the one he names toothless.

The movie reminds me a lot of Lilo & Stitch, a young child working to tame a wild beast, which makes sense as DreamWorks snagged Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois who are known for the Disney movie. The movie is based on the Cressida Cowell book of the same name which included dragons speaking their own language. I am glad the directors left this aspect of the book out to give it a more realistic feel, never forgetting that ultimately this movie is about dragons, it makes it easier to become immersed in their world.

My only regret for the movie is that I did not get to see it in 3-D. There are some beautiful landscapes and flying scenes that would no doubt benefit from the flimsy glasses given out at the theater.

It always takes me a little while to get comfortable with Jay Baruchel's nasally voice but he definitely adds to the dweeby personality that the protagonist is supposed to possess. Gerard Butler combines the action-hero voice from 300 fame and crosses it with his works in the Rom-Com field to add to his nurturing father role. America Ferrera gives a strong girl power voice to the love interest of the story. But Craig Ferguson has one of the funnier roles in the movies as he trains the new cadets. Interesting that the adults all have a Scottish accent while the kids all sound American, I'm sure it just develops after puberty.

This is definitely a movie that parents will enjoy taking their kids to see. And if at all possible see this one in 3-D, from what I understand its worth the extra couple bucks. B+