HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON / ***½

Distributor: Paramount (DreamWorks)
Release Date: March 26, 2010
Genre: Animation
Running Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG

In the somewhat checkered history of DreamWorks Animation (I’m looking at you “Shark Tale,” “Shrek,” and “Madagascar”), the latest release from Pixar’s primary competition rests comfortably at the top of their filmography, right alongside “Kung Fu Panda,” “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” and “Chicken Run.”

The story is fairly simple, but is told with admirable wit and style. Jay Baruchel (his second starring role from March) stars as Hiccup, a young Viking who doesn’t exactly fit the mold his fearsome warrior father Stoick (Gerard Butler) does.

The entire Viking population is concerned with killing dragons. Hiccup has been densied dragon killing training because his disapproving father doesn’t think he can handle it. All of the other Viking children are the typically aggressive, grunting brutes. There’s Snotlout (Jonah Hill), Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), and twins Tuffnut (T.J. Miller) and Ruffnut (Kristen Wiig). The best and smartest fighter is Astrid (America Ferrera); she’s also the object of Hiccup’s desire. They all train with the grizzled old Gobber (Craig Ferguson in show-stealing vocal performance).

All their lives, the Vikings have operated under the idea that dragons are dangerous and out to get them, and must be killed. The vilest dragon of all is called the Night Fury, a dragon that cannot be seen at night and causes massive destruction everywhere it goes. Hiccup vows to be the first Viking to ever kill one, thinking it would impress his father. He claims to have done it before, but no evidence has ever been found.

The plot kicks into motion when Hiccup finally does take one down. However, he is unable to finish the job and leaves the dragon alive. After some initial trepidation on both sides, both Hiccup and the Dragon, which he names Toothless, realize that neither are violent by nature. Hiccup discovers that the bigger problem was not training the dragon, but re-training the Vikings. The story follows a traditional arc but the characters are likable enough and the 3D effects are extremely well done, probably second only to “Avatar.”

“How to Train Your Dragon” is a tremendously entertaining film that presents a solid message for the kids. The actors all do a great job making their characters stand out in a somewhat crowded field. You know it’s good when I don’t completely hate Gerard Butler.

After grosses over $180 million, a sequel was recently announced. It is scheduled for release in 2013.

Theater: RDM Westroads 14, Omaha, NE
Time: 145 pm
Date: April 21, 2010

SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE / ***

Distributor: Paramount
Release Date: March 12, 2010
Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: R

The opening shot of director Jim Field Smith’s debut film “She’s Out of My League” is a close up Jay Baruchel, who plays the film’s hero, Kirk. This shot is indicative of the film’s primary motive: move the hard to pronounce name Baruchel to the list of bankable comedic talents.

Thanks to Baruchel’s unique and squirmy charisma, “League” succeeds in revealing him as someone who can carry a romantic comedy. He’s like a skinner Seth Rogen.

Kirk works airport security with his friends Stainer (T.J. Miller), Jack (Mike Vogel), and Devon (Nate Torrence). His life doesn’t seem to be going anywhere special. The most pathetic aspect of Kirk’s life is that his witch of an ex-girlfriend Marnie (Lindsay Sloane) got so close with his parents (Debra Jo Rupp and Adam LeFevre) that she hangs around them with her new boyfriend Ron (Hayes MacArthur).

One day Kirk’s luck changes for the better. The gorgeous Molly (Alice Eve) comes through his gate at the airport and while the rest of his colleagues almost literally drool on her, Kirk treats her like a normal person, which she clearly appreciates. Turns out she appreciates it so much that she leaves her phone behind, and when her friend Patty (Krysten Ritter) calls it and Kirk answers, Molly asks Kirk to return it to her at a party she’s throwing.

At first Kirk is able to enjoy himself because he thinks there is no way that Molly could possibly be interested in him. As his friends explain to him, she’s a “hard 10” and he’s more of a “five,” and you can’t jump more than two levels. When Patty tells Kirk that Molly is definitely into him, Kirk’s defenses immediately go up. I mean, why would a girl like that be interested in a guy like Kirk? I can relate.

The film progresses in exactly the way you would expect it to: Kirk and Molly both get bad advice from their friends; the relationship goes through hardship; happy ending. However, the likability of both leads (as well as the supporting characters) is strong enough to carry the film. Baruchel does a fine job in his first starring role as the lovable loser; over time I think he’ll find the exact right balance in those two words, as he was almost too much the latter in this. Eve sidesteps the idea that all hot blonde girls in movies are either vapid or bitchy. She brings natural warmth to Molly, who really is just a nice, intelligent girl that happens to be a Hard 10.

Theater: RDM Westroads 14, Omaha, NE
Time: 730 pm
Date: March 9, 2010 (Promo)