OUTDOOR SCREENING: How to Train Your Dragon

A Viking boy named Hiccup (Baruchel) lives in Berk, a village that suffers from frequent attacks by the local band of dragons who steal their sheep and torch their buildings. The villagers have learnt to fight back, and Hiccup’s father, Stoick (Butler), is rather disappointed that his son is not a natural-born dragon hunter. To complicate matters, just when Hiccup is signed up for dragon training, he stumbles upon a dragon that will completely alter the relationship between humans and the winged beasts forever.

How to Train Your Dragon is a creative and visually alluring tale that manages to entertain all age groups. The great variety of dragons on display gives the film the tools with which to keep the action fresh, and provides the audience with fun titbits of information on the well-constructed fantasyland. This, coupled with the beautifully animated landscape and the carefully detailed village, gives depth to the world of Berk.

Jay Baruchel gives a warm and likeable quality to the male protagonist, with America Ferrera providing the voice for the determined Astrid, proving that it’s not only the men who can hunt dragons. The band of male teens provides the film with many a comic moment, but it is through the main story that the film excels. As the dragons’ motivations slowly unfurl and Hiccup and Stoick try to work on their relationship, you’ll realise that you have become fully invested in the fate of these characters. Furthermore, Hiccups newfound friend, Toothless, is absolutely adorable and shows an impressive amount of emotion for an animated dragon.

Overall, How to Train Your Dragon has plenty of laughs, even more heart, and an impressive palette of colourful characters and scenery. It is highly recommended to anyone in search of a great story with the visual spectacle to match.

Julia Huntenburg