I want a pet dragon

Rating: 8/10 (13 August 2011)

When How to Train Your Dragon was released into cinemas it's first weekends box-office was disappointing, but thanks to positive reviews and good word of month it had staying power and was a very successful film for Dreamworks.
On the island of Berk the Viking population have a dragon pest problem with the reptiles stealing their livestock. On resident on the island is Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is a disrespected blacksmith who has an reputation for being a clut and he sets out to prove himself by killing the most dangerous dragon breed of all, the Night Fury. He is able to bring one down with his inventions but when he finds it he is unable to kill it. His father and the chief of the village Stoick the Vast (Gerald Butler) goes on a mission to find the dragons' island to stop them once and all and gets his friend Gobber the Belch (Craig Ferguson) to train Hiccup with the other teens on the island for Dragon Hunting training. But Hiccup finds the Night Fury on the island, befriends him and studies the creature, using what he learns to ease through training. But most of all, with his new friend Toothless discovers that dragons are not monsters at all.
What makes How to Train Your Dragon work is that Dreamworks follows Pixar's model of story and character and not go for an overload of pop-cultural references. This is the story of an outsider who wants to prove themselves to his community and ends up learning and using his knowledge, a good message for children. It is also a story of friendship and we get to believe that Hiccup is a gently soul who wants to help the creature. There is also the old chestnut of a child wanting to prove himself to his father and a father not understanding why their child is so different to what they were.
The directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois are both famous for directing Lilo and Snitch and both are from the Disney school of how to make animated movies. But after leaving Disney under bad circumstances they have found a good way to get back at their former employers by making a hit film for one of their rivals. Both men are able to mix action, comedy and tender moments, starting with the village getting attacked. The humour is a healthy balance of child friendly slapstick to witty lines and jokes. The action is well done, from when Toothless is flying, the dragon attack and the dragon hunting training. The animation is top notch, whether it is the details on Toothless or of the world and the well made action sequences.
Hiccup is a great voiceless character and the animators did a great job to allow him to express himself, either through his eyes or ear movements. The writers and directors made him out to be a cross between a dog, a cat and a horse in the way he acts. He would be a great pet. Gerald Butcher was pretty much playing King Leondias from 300 and that is why I liked his character, a gruff, tough war leader who is so macho that he can't express his emotions. My one major problem is Baruchel because I do find his voice slightly annoying, playing his character as a stereotypical whiny nerd. He becomes better later on but I found it hard to warm to him straight away.
Overall How to Train Your Dragon is a fun fast paced film for children and adults of all ages.