NOT DRAGGIN’ AT ALL
How to Train Your Dragon
***
Review by Paul Preston
Welcome, DreamWorks Animation. I know, they’ve been at it for close to ten years now, but “How To Train Your Dragon” is the first movie I’ve seen from them that fires on all cylinders. In close to ten years of films, DreamWorks has made a name as the little brother to Pixar, finding major box office, but not always finding respect (unlike Pixar, they’ve had some projects that didn’t sweep the country – “Bee Movie”, “Over the Hedge”). It seems they always went more for laughs with “Shark Tale” and “Madagascar”, but they show that with a little heart, their movies are capable of being a more complete entertainment.
“Dragon” is about a young Viking named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), whose village is routinely attacked by dragons, who take the resident’s sheep and livestock. Dragons are the sworn enemy of the Vikings, who vow to kill as many of them as possible. Killing a dragon is a badge of honor, but Hiccup doesn’t share this bloodlust, much to his father’s chagrin. Once Hiccup befriends a dragon, the traditions of the village are challenged. There are familiar elements here, most notably “Beauty and the Beast”, with themes of misunderstanding and befriending an enemy of the town, plus Hiccup fancies himself an inventor, much like Belle’s father, but it’s scattered with enough original choices to make it fresh on most fronts.
“How to Train Your Dragon” is based on a book, which might be another reason for the film being the first I’ve seen from DreamWorks Animation that really has heart (I know “Shrek” was a novel, but that movie was all about snarkiness). I rooted for Hiccup, and the directors (Dean Debois & Chris Sanders) do a good job of keep the danger very real for our heroes so that it never feels trite. Sure, it’s a fantasy world, but if the characters don’t invest in it, why should I? “Dragon”’s characters are alive in their world, in humorous, dramatic and exciting moments, never skimping on one to serve the other.
I’m with nearly everyone else I talk to – on board the “done with 3-D already” train. But “How to Train Your Dragon”’s digital 3-D projection was quite excellent. As with most other 3-D films lately, in my peripheral vision, on the corners of the screen (also the outer edge of the glasses), there was some color distortion and blurriness. Small, inconsequential, and not entirely distracting sections of the screen, mind you, but is there something preventing 3-D glasses from being giant, bug-eyed glasses like the ones Elton John used to wear in the seventies? This way, NO part of our vision gets away from the effect. I think the result would be more immersive. Then you could throw in a boa, and it’s a party.
Gerard Butler appears in his fortieth movie in the past year, here voicing Hiccup’s father Stoick. Craig Ferguson is great as Gobber, the Viking who’s in charge of training the young dragon fighters. This brings up a weird, ongoing thing. For some reason it works that these Scottish actors are convincing playing Norse Vikings. It plays into the ongoing trend that if you need foreigners…hire the British!! They don’t even need to change their dialect! Anthony Hopkins just got hired to play Viking Odin in “Thor”, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes just chewed up the set of “Clash of the Titans”. It’s especially weird ‘cause it works. Foreign = British. So be it.
The animation here is also the best I’ve seen from DreamWorks. The textures and colors are vibrant. The dragons are just colorful and decorated enough to be imposing without being entirely scary – until the end, when an expertly imagined action scene introduces a truly intimidating and foreboding dragon. I think the crisp, digital 3D I saw contributed to the impressive you-could-touch-‘em surfaces of the world of the film.
The film surprises with big laughs as well as poignant moments, including real consequences for the big, impressive action sequence towards the end. Baruchel provides just the right voice for Hiccup, a young hero worth following for 98 minutes. I don’t think there’s anyone live-action under twenty who I’d want to watch for 98 minutes. So, job well done.
Directed by: Dean Debois & Chris Sanders
Release Date: March 26, 2010
Run Time: 98 Minutes
Country: USA
Rated: PG
Distributor: DreamWorks Animation
