How to Train Your Dragon | A-

So how would you go about taming a ferocious, flying beast? It turns out all that's needed is persistence, ingenuity and inflammable undergarments. How to Train Your Dragon delivers a visually dazzling thrill ride while maintaining its humor and storytelling depth.

Set on the mythical Viking Island of Berk, How to Train Your Dragon focuses on the young and clumsy Hiccup (Jay Baruchel). Hiccup is a scrawny Viking who just can't seem to fit in with his village's rough and tough barbarian residents. Hiccup aspires to be like the rest of his dragon-slaying townsfolk, who constantly defend Berk against deadly dragon attacks. Unfortunately, he is always underestimated by his peers and his father, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), who just so happens to be the chief of the village. When Hiccup shoots down the legendary Night Terror, the most feared and mysterious dragon, he cannot bring himself to kill it. In turn he befriends the Night Terror, nicknaming it Toothless, and learns how to ride it. Using his newfound skills, Hiccup prevails in dragon fighting practice, and attempts to win the respect of his friends, father and the beautiful Astrid (America Ferrera).

Many of us are familiar with the tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and how because of his differences, Rudolph was able to use his unique skill to aid Santa Claus in a time of need. How to Train Your Dragon conveys the same message, except in a far more interesting manner. It is uplifting to watch Hiccup develop and change the way the whole town looks at him. It is even more pleasing that he does it via his own methods, without conforming to the brutish traditions that everyone else blindly follows.

Ever since Toy Story exploded on to screens and completely changed how people viewed animation, CGI films have continuously pushed the boundaries on what can be done with technology. How to Train Your Dragon is no exception. The animators are able to successfully breathe life in to this wondrous fantasy world, and the characters, scenery and majestic aerial battles all fall into place like puzzle pieces. Even the voice acting feels genuine; Jonah Hill, Craig Ferguson and Kristen Wiig help bring the film's colorful personas to life.

DreamWorks Animation may stop sulking and take a breath of fresh air, as they finally have a worthy picture to challenge the multi-Academy Award winning goliath that is Pixar. How to Train Your Dragon is a family film that soars through the screen by upping the ante of 3-D animated pictures. It combines humor with drama to a point where one feels sympathetic to the main character and committed to the story. How to Train Your Dragon will not disappoint, and will entertain kids and adults of all ages.