Pixar, watch your back, Dreamworks is sneaking up.

Rating: 8/10 (4 June 2010)

"How To Train Your Dragon"- A guide to successful domestication. Or a really awkward title for a porn film.
As with most films, I went with certain expectations, but all of them, were exceeded as the ending credits rolled out... and made me head down to the nearby adoption center, in hopes of finding a baby dragon. No luck.
Dreamwork's latest film is directed by Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders and written by Cresida Cowell, is voice cast by such stars as Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrara, Craig Ferguson.
The premise?
In a mythical land, where Vikings favorite pastime activity is hunting fire-spitting pests, dragons, a muscle-ridden teenager by the name of Hiccup (voice by Jay Baruchel) tries to constantly make a mark" on the 300 year old war with little or no success. Actually, with no success at all.
Until one day, he get's lucky, and catches the most feared dragon of all, Night Fury, the unholy offspring of lightning and death", and an unlikely friendship develops.
What seemed to be playing with fire, turns out to be more like sitting next to it, and enjoying the warmth. As Hiccup is forced into How-to-kill-a-dragon 101, he realizes that all they know about them is wrong". Unfortunately, his father Stoick, (voiced perfectly by Gerard Butler) does not share his approach...
How to Train your Dragon" is an animated film, full of heart, with a healthy emotional dose, stitched together with thrilling aerial sequences, that put 3D to it's best use – it puts you, where the action is. And, what's a rare trend in animated films, the film is practically pop-culture free.
The character designs don't disappoint, but also don't thrill... That is until you see the dragons. Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head. Give them a twist a flick of the wrist, That's what the showman said... Sorry
The Dragon's design heavily reflects their personalities - a bumble-bee like dragon is a bit slow on the uptake, while a sleek-designed dragon, like Night Fury, is fast and smart, kinda like a heat-seeking missile). Also, what I really liked about them, is that eventually they turn out to have pet-like behavior. They like being scratched on the back, they get high on blades of grass and if you share a fish with them, they'll love you forever.
The entire voice cast is a perfect fit for the film's characters. Gerard Butler, with his overpowering, hoarse, deep-throat voice, goes perfectly with Stoick's over-muscular statuesque (Sparta is proud of you!) Jay Baruchel is AMAZING! His voice acting gives Hiccup so much credibility as a boy with unlimited fervor but limited by his surroundings. And then we also have Craig Ferguson voicing Gobber, the village's blacksmith who has a blanket-like quality to his voice – warm & fuzzy. And there are many more talented voice cameos, who carry themselves quite well throughout the film.
You can just tell, that Dreamworks tried Pixar's approach... They gave the story a lot of thought and consideration. Like it would be their first and last animated film for which they'd be remembered. Show, don't tell – it's that simple. Up" did it, so can you!
One bad thing is, that the film seems a bit sequel-ready. No need for future installments to ruin the charm of the first one. Remember "Shrek"?
You will not burn yourself on How To Train Your Dragon". Instead you will be pleasantly meant with warmth and understanding, that we can all coexist with each other.
Pixar, watch your back, Dreamworks is sneaking up.