How to Train Your Dragon

I often find myself writing unnecessarily positive reviews about animated films. I almost feel guilty bashing a kids' movie, which usually simply exist teach kids the simple lessons they need to know about life, and is usually the onus of the arguments of the "you're too critical" crowd of moviegoers. "How could you possibly hate that?" they squeal. "It's SOOO cute!"

I'm very aware of this particular prejudice of mine, and that self-awareness keeps me on guard for anything cartoon.

So about 10 minutes into "How to Train Your Dragon," I found myself wanting to dislike this tale of vikings, dragons and friendship.

But for the life of me, I couldn't.

Even with characters name Hiccup, Toothless, and Tuffnut, I simply couldn't find it in me to hate this engaging boy-meets-reptile story.

Hiccup (voice of Jay Baruchel) is the black sheep of a Viking civilization that prides itself on killing the dragons that plague their town. The Vikings and dragons are at war, locked in an everlasting struggle for dominance.

In a society that hails physical strength (but doesn't seem to value ingeniuty and intelligence so much), Hiccup is an outcast, the stereotypical boss's worthless son who someone is invariably charged with keeping out of trouble and out of the way.

But Hiccup longs to slay dragons, determined to win the approval of his father (Gerard Butler) and prove to everyone in his world that he is worth something.

When he takes down the most feared and rarest dragon, Hiccup finds he doesn't have the stomach to kill another creature. Instead he befriends it, and finds that for all Vikings think they know about dragons, they really know nothing about them at all.

As a story, there is nothing particularly unique or even unusual about the story. We haven't had many viking tales in popular culture lately, but the overall themes--fathers and sons, misfits bonding, misjudging an entire species--is hardly new ground. There are even beats and entire scenes that are as commonplace in movies-animated or not-that in a lesser film would cause eye-rolling and sighing.

The animation is fine if unspectacular, as is the 3D, which isn't showy, but neither is it as effectively used in other films like "Monsters Vs. Aliens" or "Coraline."

But there's something intangible about this little film, be it the cuddly giant-kitty-cat dragons or the fierce, fun flying sequences (which were still done much better in "Avatar"), or the rousing, action-filled finale, "Dragon" has an undeniable, magnetic charm.

Baruchel isn't the answer-he's just charismatic and likable enough to fit in the film without overwhelming it, and none of the supporting characters are standouts (I couldn't even think of any of their names off hand).

But there's one thing that really surprised me, a narrative choice that I'd go so far as to say is gutsy in a movie like this, aimed squarely at children. It would be a spoiler to reveal it, but suffice it to say it's done as a complete surprise in terms of story (it's not even set up when it happens), but it's an absolutely perfect touch.

While the kids will probably enjoy it a little more than the adults, "How to Train Your Dragon" is certainly worth both yours and your kids' time.

It's just...so cute.