All Critics (170)
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Top Critics (29)
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Fresh (171)
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Rotten (3)
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DVD (9)
It's a Harry Potter-meets-Avatar adventure that should delight most children and adults.
Technically proficient and featuring a witty, intelligent, surprisingly insightful script, How to Train Your Dragon comes close to the level of Pixar's recent output while easily exceeding the juvenilia Dreamworks has released in the last nine years.
This dog can hunt. On the ground. Way-way up in the air. Swimming through clouds breathing fire. Imagine Old Yeller on a hundred pep pills.
How to Train Your Dragon uses its whiz-bang technology to amplify feelings as well as dimension and scale. The big optical wow is only the half of it.
The 3-D throughout How to Train Your Dragon is perhaps the best match with animation yet -- exhilarating when it's supposed to be, yet integrated into the film rather than seemingly pasted on.
One of the pleasures in this wise, emotionally bold PG ride is there's nary a wink, nudge or nod to popular culture.
Exuberant execution, infectious humor, and overwhelming charm.
A totally enthralling movie that despite using well-worn themes seems totally fresh. Beautiful to behold and always witty, this is what I would have nominated as best film of 2010 had I seen it in time.
The result is fun and thrilling, and plenty of snappy jokes and sight gags will keep audiences of all ages entertained.
Swooping visuals and knockabout comedy blend in a family entertainment that should be the Easter weekend treat.
Like Up, it knows when to be funny, when to lay on the action and when to be moving.
Those who were enchanted by the flying sequences in Avatar will experience the same exhilaration here as Hiccup rides Toothless between mountain peaks. Equally uplifting is the father-son reconciliation which is handled with just the right emotional heft.
Neck and neck with "Toy Story 3" as the finest animated film of 2010...
It has some fun character designs, a good message, and some fairly typical jokes, and then last of all is the characters and the story.
With 'real' Harry Potter fighting wizards all over the planet, what fun it is to have animated characters take on the big bad dragons that plagued Vikings for years.
HTYD takes a bold chance, and attempts to entertain adults not by being cute, gimmicky, thematically challenging, or infused with pop culture shout outs; it does so by being imaginative, heartfelt, and beautiful in fiery flourishes.
Sanders and DeBlois have given DreamWorks Animation their best entry to date.
The film doesn't tread any new ground, at least in terms of the narrative, but the breathtaking visuals, heartwarming themes, spirited action and energetic voice cast make this one animated title audiences of all ages should check out.
Snappy one-liners, interesting side characters and cracking action scenes - including a thrilling final battle - elevate this above its slightly corny premise.
Each time I go to the movies, I'm dying to feel once again like my seven-year-old self; overcome with exhilaration. For a few brief, shining moments, How To Train Your Dragon was able to do that.
...catches all the spirit of good high adventure and combines it with poignancy and humor. Plus, it's a joy just to look at and listen to. (Blu-ray Edition)
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