Today’s quick review: How to Train Your Dragon. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a scrawny Viking teenager, has spent his life trying to hunt dragons like his father Stoick (Gerard Butler). After years of failure, he succeeds in bringing down a Night Fury, a rare and dangerous dragon. But when he goes to kill it, he finds that the dragon is nothing like he was taught. Naming it Toothless, Hiccup sets out to prove that dragons can be trained.
How to Train Your Dragon is an animated fantasy adventure about a teenage boy who befriends a dragon, the hated enemy of his village. Through trial and error with Toothless, Hiccup learns how dragons behave when they are not carrying off livestock and setting fire to buildings. In doing so, he opens up a new path forward for his village. Solid storytelling, an inventive world, and plenty of action make How to Train Your Dragon a strong pick.
How to Train Your Dragon sets up its conflict well. Hiccup is nothing like his fellow Vikings. He is observant, inquisitive, and physically weak, making him a social outcast and a disappointment to his father. His friendship with Toothless is a new chance for him to prove himself, as well as unique application of his skills. The result is a story with a clean but satisfying progression and an excellent arc for its main character.
How to Train Your Dragon also benefits from strong world-building. The movie goes the extra mile to explain the different kinds of dragon and their personalities, as well as the people and traditions of Hiccup’s village. These details add just enough color to the movie and make its world fun to explore. Meanwhile, the animation fully conveys the excitement of fighting and riding dragons, especially when it comes to Toothless.
How to Train Your Dragon is a well-rounded movie with a rewarding story and no major missteps. How much you get out of it will depend on exactly how its world and its characters hit you, but its craftsmanship makes it well worth a watch for anyone who is interested. Fans of less conventional stories may want to steer clear; for all of its individual touches, How to Train Your Dragon sticks close to the structure of other family films.
For another animated family film about a boy making friends with a misunderstood creature, try The Iron Giant. For an animated fantasy adventure with similar family dynamics, try Brave.
[8.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892769/). I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a unique premise and a well-constructed story.