Dad's Movie Lists
 

How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois, rated PG

What started as fire and fury will become friendship.

Film ClipStarring: (the voice talents of:) Jay Baruchel, Randy Thom, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller, David Tennant

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Most people would leave. Not us. We're Vikings. We... have stubbornness issues." - Hiccup

Why watch this? It's a wonderful, action-filled tale about Vikings and air-borne dragons.

Plot Summary: Viking 101: They kill dragons - all of the many kinds. On the island village of Berk, chieftain Stoick the Vast, has a teen son, Hiccup, who is a wiz with creating mechanical devices, yet weak by dad's brawny standards. When Hiccup shoots down a rare Night Fury dragon, nobody believes him. After searching the nearby forest for the dragon's body, Hiccup finds the downed beast very alive and kinda friendly. Meanwhile, Stoick enrolls the lad in dragon-fighting class, as he once sails away to destroy the monsters' nests. Hiccup desperately seeks his dad's approval, but can he actually take a dragon's life?

Dad's Preview: Of course, this beloved animated treasure features misunderstood flying monsters, and the Scottish norse-folk, who have killed the beasts for as long as they can remember. There's also a loveable cadre of teenage Vikes who strive to be the best dragonslayers. However, for me, the core of this film is a broken relationship between a father and his son. Once again, DreamWorks has put forth a delightful, high-quality children's film. It also should resonate with many adults, especially fathers who might have been too hard on their sons. But rest assured folks, in this colorful adventure, all will be put right by the end credits.


DreamWorks Animation; Paramount Pictures

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