Perhaps it is because I am spoiled by Pixar every year, but I have never been able to really enjoy a Dreamworks Animation movie before. Sure Shrek was ok at the time, but it has not held up well over the years. Indeed, that is the problem with all of Dreamworks' movies: they are so invested in pop culture jokes that they can feel dated only a few years later. How funny, really, is a Who Wants to be a Millionaire joke or an American Idol spoof now? Not very. And yet, Dreamworks continued to allow these films to be made, not caring about any sort of longevity. So along comes How to Train Your Dragon, and I brush it off, in spite of the glowing reviews. Kung Fu Panda got good reviews, and that wasn't very good either. But after hearing from many people that this is the anti-Dreamworks Dreamworks movie, I finally gave in and watched it. And I am so glad I did.How to Train Your Dragon is in the tradition of Pixar's best: it's about the characters first and foremost. Any story, jokes, or emotions all develop from the characters, not the other way around. The film tells the story of Hiccup, a Viking child who is training to be a dragon killer. One day he comes across a downed dragon in the forest, but can't bring himself to kill it. In letting it live, he learns that everything he thought he knew about dragons is wrong. Naming it Toothless, the boy and dragon become friends and try to change the Vikings' view on dragons. It's a simple enough story, but it is told with such weight and emotion that you really care about the characters. Key to this is the voice talent, or lack thereof.
Jay Baruchel plays Hiccup, and his performance hits the right notes. But it wouldn't work if Toothless wasn't mute. The most surprising thing about this film is the fact that they allowed the dragons to not speak English. Toothless isn't a wisecracking sidekick; he's a pet. This allows us to project on to him the things we need to in order to empathize with him. The voicelessness gives all the dragons a noble, sad quality that is vital to making them sympathetic. The rest of the voice talent is a bit more hit and miss. Actors like Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse feel a bit out of place, like something left over from an older Dreamworks film. But then Gerard Butler uses his persona to great effect as Hiccup's disappointed father. And America Ferrera disappears into her role of the love interest, making her into more of a tough girl than a damsel in distress.
This film simply would not work if it wasn't about the story and characters first. Some really funny moments come out of who these characters are, and the connection between Hiccup and Toothless is palpable and fun. Visually it is stunning, especially during the flying scenes. All in all, it is a far better movie than I ever would have given Dreamworks credit for. I hope they learn from this movie and continue to grow in the right ways. Is it too much to ask that Shrek Forever After is the last of a dying breed, and that How to Train Your Dragon is the future for Dreamworks?
