Justin is the spit of Hiccup in How To Train Your Dragon, but that’s where the similarities end.
How To Train is a firm favorite amongst animnerds, while Justin & The Whatnots is an also ran.
The problem lies with the story and the script. Even a star-studded voice cast cannot make it fly.
Justin’s grandfather was a famous knight, but his dad would have none of that silly sword stuff, or riding to the rescue. He became a lawyer instead.
As a result, the country is being shackled by too much bureaucratic interference – Health & Safety anyone? – and suffocating rules of conduct.
The queen has banned knights and encouraged new laws to “protect” her people.
Despite being as nervous as a wet kitten and lacking self confidence, the boy takes off to a mountain monastery to learn the craft of knighthood.
He brings a feisty bar waitress and a failed fat magician as companions.
There is also a whinging crocodile who is no good to man nor beach.
There are dubiously eccentric characters floating about, such as the cowardly knight, the sweet old granny, the jealous knight, the geriatric monks, the evil one and dialogue (“You look good.” “I’ve been working out.”) that dies in the throat.
With CGI’s potential brilliance and teams of ever-younger technobrats to administer it, animation has become the meat-and-two-veg of Hollywood.
However, it is important to get the mix right.
For every Brave, there is a Planes. For every Hiccup, there is a Justin.
Choose carefully.