How to Train your Dragon

Story

Young Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) dreams of being a true Viking, killing dragons and defending his people. But he is a scrawny youth who feels he will never be worthy of his father’s attention or praise. His father, Stoick (Gerard Butler), is the Viking leader. He is the strongest and most fearless of all Vikings.

Hiccup’s life changes when he tries out one of his own inventions. Using the invention, he shoots down a Night Fury. Night Furies have never been seen before, and are believed to be the most dangerous of all dragons. No one believes Hiccup when he tells them what he has done. When his father goes off with a fleet of ships in search of the Fury’s nest, Hiccup sets off to find the dragon that fell from the sky. On the brink of giving up, Hiccup stumbles across the trapped and injured creature. It is more magnificent and terrifying than anything he has ever imagined.

Hiccup finds that he cannot kill the Fury. Instead he slowly befriends it, naming it Toothless. When Hiccup discovers that Toothless cannot fly, he makes it a tail and teaches it to fly again. In the process, Hiccup discovers that everything his people know about dragons is wrong.

Hiccup begins to win the respect of the Viking village as the villagers watch him control dragons with the tricks he has learned. More importantly, he begins to get noticed by Astrid (America Ferrera), an aspiring dragon slayer on whom he has a huge crush.

Stoick is furious when he learns that his son will not kill dragons and launches a mammoth attack on the dragon’s lair. Hiccup and Toothless now have to show the villagers, and also the dragons, what you can do when you work together.

Themes

Cruelty to animals; family breakdown

Violence

This movie contains some violence. For example:

Dragons attack a Viking village, destroying everything they can. The Vikings retaliate by trying to kill as many dragons as possible. Meanwhile swords are clashing and houses are exploding.
It is said that Stoick killed a dragon when he was just a baby by snapping off its head.
Hiccup’s invention backfires and knocks out one of the Vikings.
A dragon chases Hiccup, almost setting him on fire and eating him.
Hiccup shoots a cannon-like object at a Night Fury and hits it. The dragon falls from the sky.
Hiccup holds a dagger over the dragon and says he is going to kill it. Toothless (the Night Fury) jumps onto him with a terrible scream and then flies away.
A group of youths are thrown together to learn to fight dragons. They run, scream, bash and shove each other, hide, throw things and dodge fire.
Hiccup reads a book on dragons and finds that all the information says they are dreadful. They have names like Bone-napper and Whispering Death. Some spray acid; others set themselves on fire; and some turn their victims inside out. All are to be killed on sight.
The Viking flag shows a dragon with two swords thrust through its body.
One dragon blasts spikes at a child.
Astrid punches Hiccup.
A huge dragon eats whole, live animals.
The Vikings fire rocks into the dragon’s lair with a catapult. A huge dragon comes to attack them, eating people and burning the catapults.
A dragon almost eats Astrid.
Hiccup and Toothless try to kill a huge dragon, which is also trying to kill them. They burn holes in its wings but are then struck by fire themselves. Hiccup is knocked unconscious and loses part of his leg in the battle.

Sexual references

This movie contains some sexual references. For example:

One of the guys in the special training class tries to flirt with Astrid. He says things like, ‘I’ve got a basement room … want to come and see it?’
Astrid falls on Hiccup while fighting a dragon. She lies on top of him for a second, and someone calls out, ‘Love on the battlefield’.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

None of concern

Nudity and sexual activity

This movie contains some nudity and sexual activity. For example, Astrid wears a tight top throughout. She is shown in a sexy pose while Hiccup ogles her from afar.

Product placement

None of concern

Coarse language

There is some name-calling in this movie.

Ideas to discuss with your children

How to Train your Dragon is a computer-generated animated adventure featuring fantastic special effects, especially in the facial expressions and personalities of the dragons. The plot is predictable but interesting. Although the violent content limits the movie’s suitability for younger viewers, it is certainly a movie that parents and older children could enjoy together.

The main messages from this movie are to be positive and focus on what you can do, not what you can’t. The movie also suggests that it’s important to be true to yourself and willing to see things that others can’t, even when they seem impossible.

Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include:

a sense of justice
mercy and compassion
ingenuity and creativity
tolerance and understanding.

This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues such as:

poor communication in families, especially parents not listening to their children
the decision to go off on your own without anyone knowing where you are
the choice to take the path less travelled.