How to Train Your Dragon, also known as How to Train Your Dragon 3D, is a computer-animated film by DreamWorks Animation loosely based on the 2003 book of that same title. The film stars the voice talents of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill,
Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Craig Ferguson. The trailer was shown in front of A Christmas Carol. A second one minute trailer was shown before
Avatar. A third trailer will be shown in front of
Alice in Wonderland.
Plot
The film is set in a mythical world of Vikings and dragons. The story centers around a viking teenager named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), who lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. The teen’s smarts and offbeat sense of humor is disliked by his tribe and its chief, Hiccup’s father, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler). However, when Hiccup is included in Dragon Training with the other viking teens, he sees his chance to prove he has what it takes to be a fighter. After he entangles a dragon with a bolas-shooting cannon, Hiccup releases and ends up befriending the dragon, who he dubs with the name, Toothless. This relationship flips his world upside down as he strives to convince his tribe that they don't need to be dragon-slayers.
Cast and characters
Jay Baruchel as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. It's not easy being the brainy son of a brawny Viking, but Hiccup is too smart to waste time feeling sorry for himself; he's going to become a Viking warrior his own way. Unfortunately, in the crude world of the Vikings, Hiccup's sophisticated observations and wry sense of humor only serve to make him even more of an outsider. When Hiccup befriends his vicious enemy, an injured wild dragon, he begins an exhilarating and complicated double life.
Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast. Stoick is the old-school chieftain of the brawny Viking tribe. A reluctant and confused parent at best, he doesn't understand his clever son. Hoping to bring out the man in his boy, Stoick sends Hiccup into dragon training, a dangerous test of battle strength.
Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fishlegs Ingerman. Fishlegs was Hiccup's best friend in the book, but this position seems to have been taken over by Astrid. Fishlegs is nervous and frightened to do perilous things at the best of times. He's big in size, but small in brains. If everyone else is on the same page, you can bet he has the wrong book. And it's probably upside down.
Jonah Hill as Snotlout Jorgenson. He's mean, he's strong, and he smells horrible....In other words, he's the perfect Viking. In a village where "Only the strong can belong!" he belongs, big time. But when "his girl," Astrid, starts hanging out with "Hiccup the Useless" Snotlout swears vengeance.
America Ferrera as Astrid Hofferson. Striking, energetic and tough, Astrid embodies the Viking way. Her competitive, determined persona makes her hard to impress, but Hiccup can't help but be smitten. When Hiccup begins to show the strain of leading his double life, Astrid is the first to be suspicious.
Craig Ferguson as Gobber the Belch. Gruff, grumpy, and crass, Gobber is the seasoned warrior appointed to drill the new recruits. Gobber means well, but he's full of bad advice, which he dispenses freely and comically.
T.J. Miller as Tuffnut Thorson and Kristen Wiig as Ruffnut Thorson. Tuffnut, a boy, and Ruffnut, a girl, are fraternal twins. Both are fiendish thugs with ferocious intents and foul tempers, especially regarding each other. Viking adrenaline-junkies, no situation is too risky for their kind of dangerous fun.
Production and marketing
In initial development, the plot followed the original novel closely but was then altered. About halfway through production, Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois took over as co-directors. The original plot was "heavily loyal to the book" but was regarded as geared to a too-young demographic and too "sweet" and "whimsical", according to Baruchel. In the novel, Hiccup's dragon Toothless is incredibly small for a dragon. In the film, Toothless is a Night Fury, the rarest of all dragons, and is large enough to serve as a flying mount for both Hiccup and the girl Astrid.
An advance screening resulted in a financial analyst projecting the film to be a major boost for the studio due to a strong marketing plan, merchandising opportunities and potential for sequels. The film was expected to be heavily promoted during the 2010 Winter Olympics prior to its release date of March 26, 2010. The videogame of the same name will be produced by Glu Mobile.
Reception
The film was cited as one reason Baruchel was named as one of the top 10 new actors to watch by MSNBC/Entertainment Weekly.
Movie details courtesy of
Wikipedia
