"How to Train Your Dragon" is a guide on the values of acceptance

Director: Dean DeBlois

Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Genre: Children's

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera

The Dreamworks' latest animation effort is a visually stunning and surprisingly deep film about the values of acceptance and the power of friendship. "How to Train Your Dragon" is an incredibly deep tale about Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a frail Viking teen who can't seem to fit in with the rest of his village. While the rest of the community strives to kill the multitude of dragons that frequently plunder the village, Hiccup lacks the physical size and attitude necessary to accomplish such tasks.

Hiccup's father Stoick (Gerard Butler), the village chief and accomplished dragon slayer in his own right, enrolls his son into dragon-slaying training. The town consensus is that Hiccup will probably not pass the course, let alone live if he faces a live dragon.

Those sentiments change though when Hiccup helps an injured dragon, Toothless. Toothless is a special breed of dragon - one that has never been killed by a Viking and is thus the most feared of all breeds. As the bonds of friendship and trust build between human and dragon, Hiccup begins to learn that maybe these dragons aren't that bad after all...

"How to Train Your Dragon" is a stellar movie. I cannot think of one apparent flaw in the entire 95 minute run. The voice-acting is good, the animation and special effects are spectacular, the 3D is comfortable and the story is very deep yet subtle enough for a children's flick. I would even say that this film is just as good as Pixar's "Up" from 2009.

"How to Train Your Dragon" is an emotionally riveting tale that puts an interesting twist on the dragon genre. Although presented as a children's flick, the film is much more mature than its content suggests - catch it this weekend at the Tango Theatres.

5 out of 5 stars.

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