I shouldn’t really be impressed, because it does have a lot of cliches and tropes that quite annoy me: Hiding a pet, misunderstandings, tough-yet-flat female characters, intransigent parents, the dweeb protagonist, and so and so on.
But this movie handles them in such a refreshing, new and interesting way that they don’t bother me one bit. The characters are all surprisingly likable and easy to connect with, and their interactions feel legit. This is one of those movies where the blend of voice acting and animated acting is seamless. The setting is also really interesting, full of great ideas, and gorgeous visuals. The design of every dragon is outstanding, and yes Toothless is as cute as he is a badass. And the action sequences are perfectly tied with the story.
You should definitely check this movie out, it’s one of the best ones I’ve ever seen.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find a fireproof suit. Did you know that celluloid burns ten times faster than paper? It’s not a good idea to keep me close to something that can create fire.”