and Madagascar
to name just a couple. Yet they have never achieved a Pixar level of respect from either audiences or critics. To me, Dreamworks movies always seem to be more about the talent they can get to do voice work, while the story comes a distant second. The only thing I remember about Shark Tale? Will Smith was in it. How to Train Your Dragon is the first time I can honestly say that Dreamworks has equaled if not surpassed some of Pixar's best, with a rollicking, imaginative tale that's full of heart.If there's one thing you don't wanna be, it's a skinny ass Viking. Jay Baruchel voices the diminutive Viking, Hiccup, son to the clan's dragon slaying ruler, Stoick(Gerard Butler, still Scottish). Hiccup is a toothpick of a runt, barely the size of the thighs of most of the clan's female warriors. They live in Berk, a rocky mountainside village with little vegetation and even less esthetic appeal. What does a warrior need with such things, anyway? As long as it's defensible from the fierce hordes of dragons that plague them everyday. The Vikings don't really seem to regard the dragons as nearly as much of a problem as they should, rather as a daily opportunity to prove their mettle as combatants. The warrior mindset is a problem for Hiccup, who is relegated to the armory where he is the finest blacksmith in the village, but he years for a chance to prove his worth as a true Viking. Being a blacksmith is sortof like being the "coach's assistant" on the high school wrestling team.
Hiccup, in an effort to prove himself, defies his orders to stay indoors and blasts away at the dragons with a grappling cannon, somehow managing to down one of the creatures. After cautiously approaching where the beast fell, he finds he doesn't want to kill the helpless creature. Instead, he frees it, and after a disgusting bonding ritual involving a hald chewed carp, the two become like pet and master. Hiccup names the dragon Toothless(although it clearly isn't), and he learns that maybe all the stuff he had been taught about the "foul bloodthirsty dragons has been wrong.
Based on the 2003 children's book by Cressida Cowell, Dragon features the most likable animated hero since 2008's Wall-E. The characters are this story's strength, particularly the Timmy and Lassie relationship forged between Hiccup and Tootless. But also I see some Avatar-esque elements in there as well, as Hiccup becomes ingratiated into the culture of the supposedly dangerous dragons, and discovers that they have far more in common than they ever could've imagined. All of that stuff works beautifully, delightfully simple yet instantly engaging.
Of course there's the requisite hot chick, Astrid(America Ferrara), a Nordic warrior vixen with long flowing blonde hair and a belt made of skulls. All the Vikings in training have a thing for her, but she finds Hiccup particularly intriguing. While not all of the character development with the rest of the clan works, there is one amazing flying sequence involving Astrid and Hiccup that is absolutely breath taking.
There are a number of flying scenes here, especially in the final battle that feel like they were ripped out of Star Wars. Since I'm in the midst of a soft boycott against 3-D, I saw HTTYD in plain ol' 2-D, and these scenes are so gorgeous and effective that I doubt the added dimension would've mattered. With ticket prices skyrocketing yet again, these are the choices that must be made now. Do yourself a favor and save a few bucks, run to your nearest theater and see How to Train Your Dragon in 2-D, and be treated to a spectacular animated experience.
