Multiplex is about the only online comic strip I bother to follow anymore because I’ve done time in a movie theater so I can relate to the characters’ annoyances. One ongoing joke with the main protagonist (Jason) is his love of this movie. I’m not sure if the cartoonist necessarily speaks through him but I had a hard time agreeing on Train being superior to Toy Story 3. After watching this standard Dreamworks’ snoozefest, I am absolutely sure.
The whole plot revolves around an ongoing war between a village of Vikings, who develop Scottish accents when they become adults, and dragons that come in a variety of semi-related species like the Arachnids in Starship Troopers. Obviously as per the trailers/commericals, an atypical Viking teen named Hiccup discovers the impetus of the conflict. Through Hiccup’s relationship with a rescued dragon he names Toothless, the healing can begin.
There’s nothing terrible with the plot, I just found the execution rather boring and my ennui amplified by Dreamworks’ casting choices. Besides the Scots Craig Ferguson and Gerard Butler, the Viking teens are primarily Judd Apatow’s stable of second bananas. To me, this is a standard Dreamworks’ move to cover up a mediocre cartoon. I fell asleep somewhere near the end with no interest in knowing how it panned out.
It wasn’t a complete waste. Toothless’ behavior amused me because it was reminiscent of our youngest cat Kuroneko and all the feral kitties I usually gain the trust of.
However, Dreamworks has generated just another time killer to pacify children during a long car ride. Their ever-growing forgettable library keeps growing.