The Nevada Sagebrush

“How to Train Your Dragon,” the latest computer-animated feature film from DreamWorks Animation, is loosely based on the 2003 book of the same name and features an all-star cast of voice actors. Dreamworks

Although animated 3D adventure stories have become old hat in recent weeks, “How To Train Your Dragon” separates itself from the pack with an endearing story of determination and beating the odds.

This CGI adaptation of the children’s book by Cressida Cowell  follows the story of Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel, “She’s Out Of My League”), a Viking from the island of Berk, a nice place to live if you don’t mind the occasional dragon attack.

As the smallest and least ferocious Viking in the village, Hiccup is determined to fit in with his tribe, who value strength and bravery above all else.  However, much to the dismay of his father Stoic the Vast (voiced by Gerard Butler, “The Bounty Hunter”), who leads the tribe, Hiccup is a dreamer and an inventor and not at all the brute that everyone wishes he would be.

But Hiccup is given a chance to test his honor when Berk is attacked by a group of dragons. Hiccup, anxious to prove his valor, runs outside to test his newest weapon — a powerful slingshot.

Hiccup succeeds and captures the horrible night fury — a mysterious dragon that no one  hasddefeated. Hiccup believes that his capture of the night fury will solve all his problems, but no one believes that he has done it.

In a predictable twist, Hiccup ventures out into the forest and finds that the creature is still in a clearing, wounded and unable to fly. When he can’t bring himself to kill it, Hiccup releases the dragon and spends the next few days attempting to gain its trust. He names it Toothless when he finds that it is able to retract its teeth, giving the appearance that it doesn’t have any.

At the same time, his father decides that Hiccup should enroll in dragon training with the other youths from the village in hopes that it will toughen him up. Since Hiccup has been learning more about dragons during his time with Toothless, he wows the rest of the class with his knowledge of them and begins to fit in with the rest of his community.

Through the rest of the film, Hiccup must find a compromise between his devotion to Toothless and the expectations of his tribe.

While there are no surprising plot twists to speak of, the all-star cast of characters and a generally heartwarming story are present throughout this movie. Between Baruchel’s spot-on portrayal of the village underdog, the adorable Toothless, who behaves more like a house cat than a dragon, and the tenacious and outspoken Astrid (America Ferrera, “Our Family Wedding”), this film is definitely a must-see.

Jerri Cuerden can be reached at arts-entertainment@nevadasagebrush.com.

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