How to Train Your Dragon

Release Date: March 26th, 2010

Genre: Animated / Adventure / Comedy

Stars: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill

Synopsis: A young Viking must prove himself to his father and his friends by becoming a dragon slayer.  When he can't bring himself to kill one of the beasts in the moment of truth, he gains a friend and learns a secret that could change everything.

AltAss Ratings (On a scale of 1 to 5 asses)


Plot & Writing:                              

A nice premise for an adventure and it holds your attention and advances the story nicely.  I thought the comedy side of this work was lacking as it failed to utilize the talent of funny guys like Jonah Hill effectively or often enough.

Acting:                                             

All the voices worked very effectively with the animated characters and nobody stood out for being significantly superior or inferior to his or her fellow actor.

Animation:                                          

This is where Dreamworks seperates itself from all other animation studios.  There is undoubtedly an entire team of people who will never get the credit they deserve for making this movie the success that it was.  The dragons, which didn't speak at all, communicated very effectively though the expressions in the animation.

Originality                                       

Dragon slaying Vikings are very new.  Feel good animated pictures where good always triumphs over evil are not.

Overall:                                              

Definitely worth a look especially with your kids.  We can learn alot from the moral of this story that we should try and identify with our enemies and understand their motives before waging all out war with them.  Don't let the Vikings with Scottish accents distract you from enjoying this film.

The Laugh Factor

Belly Laughs: 0

Chuckles: 3-5