Absolutely brilliant!!!

Rating: 9/10 (25 October 2011)

I believe this film has set a new benchmark for DreamWorks pictures. Shrek established them as a top class animation production company but since the first sequel they have not hit the same class of movie but I have to say How To Train Your Dragon has bought it back to the heights Shrek bought them and perhaps even surpassed it.
How To Train Your Dragon is a story about Hiccup (Baruchel), the son of a fearsome Viking warrior, Stoick the Vast (Butler). The only problem with Hiccup is despite wanting to be a Viking, he physically can't. Compared to the large physique of the Vikings he is like a pussy cat. Desperate to follow in his Father's footsteps he forces his way into battle against the dragons attacking his home town and shoots down the most dangerous dragon of all, Nightfall. With the town folk not believing his story he sets off to find the dragon he shot down, the dragon that has never been seen before let alone caught, the one dragon the Vikings know nothing about. Hiccup finds the dragon but can't bring himself round to killing it to prove he actually did shoot it down, instead he releases it after seeing the scared look in the dragon's eyes. The dragon reacts furiously and attempts to fly off but his damaged tail means he can't get far and becomes trapped in a gorge. Hiccup, blaming himself, brings the dragon food and a handmade flight he has made to help the dragon fly. From there on in a special bond forms between man and beast and Hiccup ends up flying the dragon and keeping him as his own sort of pet. His Father sets off in search of the nest and leaves Hiccup in dragon fighting training but Hiccup has managed to see a softer side of the dragons and instead of slaying them he uses his training methods to calm them. When his Father returns he is furious at Hiccup's betrayal and he captures his dragon which he has named Toothless and again he sets sail intent on destroying the nest with the aid of Toothless' directions.
The story is like no other that DreamWorks has created and the film is not a comic film. There are a few moments of comedy but the story is more about the connection seen between the boy and the dragon. It is all so sweet. The dragon is like an over-sized dog who obeys his master's command. The boy forms a trust between the dragons and even has them shuffling up alongside him wanting to be stroked like a cat or dog would do. The movie has heart and doesn't rely on laughs to see it home.
The voice cast are good and most of them go unnoticed in their roles, which is good as the last thing you want is to think of the actor rather than the character. Baruchel's voice is very distinct but it works with the weak and feeble Hiccup and of course you can tell it is Butler as the Father as his voice works so well with the large, broad stereotypical man he is playing but I had no idea the likes of Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jonah Hill or David Tennant were in the film until the credits rolled, which is what I want from an animated film.
Adults will love this film just as much as children and if anything I think it is a more adult film that children can love as opposed to the other way round. With few moments of childish comedy and a lot of character connection the film can be related to adults with the childish elements being put in with the colourful dragon's, the slightly clichéd final act and the fact that it is a cartoon. This makes the film loved by everyone but in a different way that people loved Shrek or Toy Story.
I loved this film and hope that adults aren't put off watching it due to the animation as it was one of the sweetest, heart moving films I have seen. The cast are great, the animation's great, the characters are great and the dragons are so unique. The ending is also sad and not a stupid cliché. The film was near perfect and the reasons it isn't are these two lines: 'we live in an old town' – but all the houses are new and 'it snows nine months a year and hails the other three' – spoken when they are flying on their dragons in complete sunshine with no snow or hail in sight. Having said that I am not going to let two petty things spoil an otherwise brilliant movie. See it whenever you can.