Movie Megan Rating: 5 out of 5 Recommended For: Kindergarten age and above
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera Directed By: Christopher Sanders and Dean DeBlois Running Time: 1 hr. 30 min. MPAA Rating:PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language. Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Animation and Adaptation
Hiccup is a Viking teenager who wants desperately to prove his worth as a dragon slayer, and it seems he's well on his way when he wounds the dragon of all dragons, a Night Fury. But when he goes for the final kill, he finds he doesn't have it in him to be a dragon killer. His decision to let the dragon go free leads to an amazing friendship with the beast, which has Hiccup embarking on a mission to show his father and his tribe that dragons aren't the menacing terrors they've always believed them to be.
How to Train Your Dragon is the best family film I've seen so far this year. Hiccup, voiced by Jay Baruchel, is an unlikely hero parents and kids will cheer for. He may not be the strongest Viking on the island of Berk, but he's the smartest. His inventions don't always work out at first, but he knuckles down and keeps trying until he figures things out. He's loving, encouraging and fearless. I've gotta say, I'm a teensy bit in love with him. Parents couldn't ask for a better role model on screen for their kids.
Toothless, the Night Fury dragon Hiccup befriends, is a beautiful, cat-like creature. The team behind How to Train Your Dragon obviously researched animal behavior and got it right with Toothless. He's amazingly real, loyal and protective of Hiccup. Kids (and parents!) will walk away wishing they had their own pet dragon after meeting a gem like Toothless.
The script is refreshing. It doesn't dumb down the story or disrespect its audience's intelligence with a slew of tired gags and potty humor. There is real and engaging conflict. The characters fuel the plot with their decisions, rather than the story being driven by their circumstances alone.
Some critics say it is an old story of tolerance, and while we may have seen this theme before, audiences won't mind. How to Train Your Dragon's fine script, genuine humor, surprising twists, and lovable characters overshadow a redundant theme and make it something new and dynamic.
Most kids 5 and above should have no problem with this film. Although some of the dragons are scary-looking and tend to snap at each other, comedic relief is always waiting in the wings to lighten the mood. For kids under 5, there is one intense scene with the mother of all dragons at the end of the film. Again, the comedic relief doesn't let the scene get too far out of hand, but parents may need to snuggle little ones close. It's no worse than the dragon scene at the end of Sleeping Beauty, so use your discretion. I happen to think most kids under 5 will adore How to Train Your Dragon, but if yours is going through a nightmare stage, or doesn't like monsters in general, I'd find a babysitter while you and your spouse go check out the film yourselves. Date night, anyone?
A few other things to mention: in a text book Hiccup flips through, there are some simple drawings of swords stuck through dragons and heads blown off Viking bodies, but the images aren't graphic. Hiccup's dad gives him his very own Viking helmet, which he says is made out of one half of his mother's breast plate. At one point Hiccup's dad says, "all Hell breaks loose."
One minor grumble I have with the film: Hiccup's dad is a shallow character who only ever shows his son conditional love, even at the end. But this is a great chance to talk to your kids about the difference between unconditional and conditional love. Why did Hiccup have to succeed at Dragon Training before his father took notice of him? Why did Hiccup have to come to his father's rescue before his dad told him he was proud of him?
OVERALL
A fantastic film for kids, teens, parents...even adults without kids. Can't wait to see it again!
Movie Megan
About the author:
Megan has been involved in countless plays and musicals in her lifetime. Her experience both in the spotlight and backstage, as well as playwriting and film-making, has seasoned her into a well-rounded film critic. She enjoys the excitement of finding the diamonds in the rough for you and your family, even if it means sitting through hours of tasteless or boring films. Email Movie Megan
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