March 26, 2010
DreamWorks
Children's, Fantasy, Action, Comedy
DVD
B+
Chris Sanders co-wrote Aladdin, while Will Davies co-wrote Flushed Away, so perhaps it's not surprising that they do well here, directing as well as writing. What is surprising is that this movie is actually better than either of those. It's not due to the source material, since this is clearly another example of the movie being better than the book. The Cressida Cowell series has ugly illustrations and forgettable characters. This movie is visually stunning and the characters are endearing, because of rather than despite their imperfections. Also, it's a rare action movie where the relationships are more important than the battles. We watch as our young hero Hiccup improves how he relates to his father, his potential girlfriend, and of course his dragon. And, yes, the movie is funny, but it's also poignant. I found the sequel somewhat disappointing, and the TV series doesn't interest me, but here they got everything just about right.
David Tennant, who voices Spitelout, was Barty Crouch, Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but of course had meanwhile hit it big as Dr. Who. Jonah Hill's rise was not as dramatic, but he had become better known since his appearance as the eBay Customer in 40 Year Old Virgin. Kristen Wiig, who voices Ruffnut, would be Annie in Bridesmaids.
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| Sometimes dragons are just scaly cats, and sometimes they're your vehicle to Heaven. |
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