Asmuchfire-breathingLassieasaKingKongwithwings,ToothlessisthemostmisunderstooddragontoeverterrorizeaVikingvillageinHowToTrainYourDragon.Toothless’s“Timmy”istownmisfitHiccup(voicedbyCanada’sJayBaruchel,addingjusttherightnoteofnerdyangst),askinnykidwhoyearnstobattlethedragonsthatregularlyraidhisbleakseasidehome,makingoffwithsheepandleavingsmokingruinsbehind.Perhapsloppingoffaflame-belchingheadortwowouldhelphimfinallyearnhisdisapprovingdad’slove.It’snoteasytoliveuptothestandardsofahulkingchieftainnamedStoicktheVast(GerardButler),whoisbuiltlikeawalk-infreezerandwearsGentleBenasaraincoat.Finallyallowedtoattenddragon-fightingschool,Hiccupjustcan’tmakethegrade,watchingasFishlegs(ChristopherMintz-Plasse),Snotlout(JonahHill)andbravesuper-babeAstrid(AmericaFerrera)dobattlelikeoldprosagainstdragonsliketheDeadlyNadderandhummingbird-winged,spud-likeGronckleinthetrainingring.Meanwhile,Hiccupisindangerofbeingthemaincourseatthevillagebarbecue.Basedonthechildren’sbooksbyBritishauthorCressidaCowell,DragonowesmuchtoitsDreamWorksAnimationpredecessorsShrekandKingFuPanda,especiallyShrek.Likethelovablegreenlout,allofadultVikingsspeakwiththickScottishbrogues,whichsomehowmaketheirlinesevenfunnier.AsGobbertheBelch,theblacksmithandheadofthetrainingprogramwhohaslostafewbodypartswhilebattlingthewingedcreatures,funnymanCraigFergusonisinhiselement.ThattraditionalenemiesHiccupandToothlessaredestinedtomeetandbondisdestined.Butthescenesoftheirtentativefriendshipareunpredictableandquitedelightful,evenifToothlessbearsanuncannyresemblancetoasleekSiamesecatcrossedwithStitch,Lilo’sanimatedalienpal.NosurpriseconsideringdirectorsDeanDeBloisandChrisSanderswereresponsiblefor2002’sLiloasimplesceneoffallingashisespeciallyimpressive.Withitsmessagesaboutacceptance,respectandtolerance,HowToTrainYourDragonalsobringssomelessonsofitsown,includingsomevaluabletoolsfordoingbattlewithdragons,shouldtheneedarise.Didyouknowjustabouteverydragonhasablindspot?Sodopeople,itturnsout.
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