Appeals to All Ages With a Style, Wit and a Gentle Message

Rating: 10/10 (27 March 2010)

After squirming through some real losers like "Bee Movie", this is the most enjoyable children's film I've seen in several years.
I watched it with my 5 yr-old grandson and both of us were equally engaged and entertained from start to finish. That's quite a stretch and no small task for today's audiences.
I went to the cinema expecting to snooze through some sappy "boy meets dragon" Lassie tale. But the story is astutely pulled together with sophistication, sensitivity, and a lot of excitement.
Why this movie succeeds:
1. The main characters are endearing and simply don't come with any saccharine cutesiness. Jay Baruchel captures the character of "Hiccup" with a wit and style that doesn't pander to youngsters or is otherwise gratuitous.
2. The dragon "Toothless" thankfully doesn't talk, sing, or act like a human covered in scales. It doesn't exude some sappy puppy dog love. Nor pop philosophy, which made the film "Dragon Heart" mawkish. Toothless simply acts as an intelligent creature that communicates though an enchanting range of expressions.
3. The film has one nicely simply yet deep message for kids: treat all forms of life with respect, kindness and empathy. The film doesn't try to monotonously cram some New Age or politically correct rhetoric down your throat, as "Wall-E" did.
4. The editing and pacing is superb. There is never a dull moment. The film zooms along with nonstop action, adventure, fun and dry wit. It is visually stunning in 3D.
Don't wait for the DVD.