Since 300, the stoic actor, who voices a character named Stoick, hasn't made many good career decision (though I quite enjoyed RocknRolla) since his breakout role as King Leonidas. The key to his success here was: a) being heard and not seen and b) playing the supporting role in the film. Oh, and being the animated equivalent of Leonidas.

How To Train Your Dragon, at it's core, is a boy and his dog film. A boy and his dog film, if the dog was a dragon and the boy was a ninety-five pound Viking warrior wannabe. Hiccup, voiced by the very talented Jay Baruchel, longs to be a dragon hunter, but is stymied by the fact that he hasn't the wherewithal to kill anything. That, and he befriends a dragon and comes to the realization that dragons are really rather peaceful creatures. In actuality, the film is quite allegorical in the sense that perceptions are challenged when warring factions have to reevaluate why they are at war in the first place. Palestine and Israel take note.

The madcap antics, dragon training scenes, and awesomely realized imagery will be enough to tickle tyke's fancies, but it's the relationships that blossom that will keep adults in their seats. At the heart of the film are three main relationships, with Hiccup at the center. The father/son relationship is explored by showing how disappointed Stoick is with his son, due to a lack of dragon hunting prowess. A disappointment that is only exacerbated by the next significant relationship, which is the boy/dragon pairing. Raised to believe that they are mortal enemies, neither is capable of letting their guard down at first, but ultimately learn to appreciate each on a level that hadn't been previously explored. While juggling the roles of both dragon hunter and dragon trainer, Hiccup finds a confidant in Astrid, a female Viking that regularly puts him to shame in the toughness department. Here begins the third important relationship, as we see a mutual respect and fondness grow out of a shared secret. Amid the amazing visuals and comical overtones, there is real heart to this film. Something few animated selections allow themselves to have nowadays.

Now that I've brought the house down with my melodramatic interpretation of the film, I'd like to reiterate that it is a comical film, with magnificent animated sequences. The comedy is spot on, with wonderful delivery from the voice cast which includes not only Butler and Baruchel, but also America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and the always funny Kristen Wiig and Craig Ferguson.

How To Train Your Dragon is the complete animated package. Comedy, imagination, and compassion coalesce into a near perfect film that will entertain adults and children alike.