My first thought, “How to Train Your Dragon” might be a bit scary for the younger one’s. Those fears were quickly dispelled when I heard the comments from the kids as we left the screening!

The story, presented in 3-D, follow a young Viking boy (voiced by Jay Baruchel) who’s ridiculed and made fun of because he has no wish to become a ‘dragon hunter’. Pushed into the dragon hunter training program by his father (voiced by Gerard Butler, currently starring in ‘The Bounty Hunter’), the young boy has series doubts as to whether he’s up to the challenge. In modern times he would be considered a bit on the ‘nerdy side’ which isn’t a bad thing, its just not what some might call the usual.

Confronting his and the tribes ‘biggest’ fears, literally, he befriends an injured young dragon. As both his and the young dragon’s fears dissipate, they both learn there may be more to each of their fear of the other than they assumed, while the boy sets in motion a possible new direction for his tribe and their relationship with the ageless nemesis of the Vikings!

One of the hardest aspects of reviewing movies is to put one’s frame of mind to that of the children when the movie is presented with that target audience in mind. Frequently the screenings take place with a general audience in attendance as well. It’s a great barometer for now only gauging my reaction as an adult, but also the children and families attending. For this screening there were children and they loved it!

A couple of high points for me is I thoroughly enjoyed the voice work of my favorite late night show host Craig Ferguson of “The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson”, and with the number of 3-D presentations of late, the 3-D didn’t consist of numerous ‘jump out at you’ moments. Instead, the 3-D effect immerses us in the world of the Viking tribe and their lifestyle, which makes for a very entertaining visit!

“How to Train Your Dragon” featuring the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, and Kristen Wiig.

Directed by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders. Written by Dean DeBlois. Paramount Pictures release. Rated PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language. Runtime: 98 minutes.

To view the trailer! ~ For a theater near you!?

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