Review of How to Train Your Dragon (2010) by Natalie D — 16 Feb 2017

It's been a while since DreamWorks had an unqualified hit on their hands. The Shrek franchise is dying, and there will always be new kids who want a series all their own. I do not know whether this was planned as a potential new franchise, or if DreamWorks stumbled backward into it, but either way, this movie is great.

It begins as a typical fish out of water tale; scrawny Viking can't live up to his father's expectations, needs to become a man, yadda yadda. Once we get going, we see the true depth of character present in everyone, including (and this is key) the ability to change heart. Every major character in this movie has a great arc, and it work so well with the rest of the story.

The voice cast is solid, with Baruchel, Butler, Ferguson, and Ferrera all delivering. Some of the accents seem contrived, but I can't be too hard on an animated film.

The world is very richly detailed, with lots of lore and backstory. It really drives home the motivations of the characters, and just feels fun. This is very enjoyable for children and adults alike.