A Viking teenager (Jay Baruchel) befriends a dragon in “How to Train Your Dragon.”
This week’s offerings include “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Mary Poppins”
I can’t think of a better way spend the last days of summer than watching movies under the stars.
Fortunately for local film fans, August offers a number of outdoor screenings geared toward the entire family. The fun starts Friday with the DreamWorks animated film “How to Train Your Dragon,” screening in Templeton.
Young Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is a pretty poor excuse for a Viking. He’s small, scrawny and would rather tinker with his inventions that practice his swordplay. Still, he longs to join his father (Gerard Butler) in the fight against the dragons who constantly terrorize their village.
One night, Hiccup succeeds in capturing a fearsome Night Fury. Rather than kill the beast, however, he befriends the dragon — which he names Toothless — and learns to ride it.
Loosely based on the book series of the same name, “How to Train Your Dragon” features exciting action sequences, gentle humor and a cast of likable characters.
“How to Train Your Dragon” screens at dusk Friday at Evers Sports Park, located on Gibson Street in Templeton. The screening is free and open to all ages.
Parking is $5 per carload. Free popcorn provided.
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Also screening Friday is “National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation.”
Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his family (Beverly D’Angelo, Marisol Nichols and Ethan Embry) embark on another disastrous vacation — this time to Sin City itself, Las Vegas. Their topsy-turvy trip includes nonstop gambling, a visit to the Hoover Dam and run-ins with Wayne Newton and Siegfried and Roy.
Coming on the heels of “Vacation,” “European Vacation” and Christmas Vacation,” “Vegas Vacation” isn’t the best film in the series. However, it does features the franchise’s trademark humor and wacky antics.
“Vegas Vacation” screens under the stars Friday night at Veris Cellars, 1266 N. Bethel Road in Templeton.
The free screening, which starts at 8 p.m., comes complete with candy, popcorn and, of course, locally crafted wine.
Veris Cellars’ free outdoor screening series continues Aug. 12 with “The Philadelphia Story.” Call 434-0319 for more information.
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Saturday marks the start of Atascadero’s free summer screening series, Movies in the Park.
First up is the classic Disney musical “Mary Poppins.”
When Jane and Michael Banks need a new nanny, the magical Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) appears out of the clouds.
She soon makes her mark on the Banks household, improving the children’s manners and taking them on adventures with genial chimney sweep Bert (Dick Van Dyke) and crazy Uncle Albert (Ed Wynn). Mary also works wonders with their parents, turning cold banker Mr. Banks (Disney regular David Tomlinson) and flighty suffragete Mrs. Banks (Glynis Johns) into the ideal dad and mum.
Bring your blankets and low-backed chairs to watch “Mary Poppins” at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at the Sunken Gardens Park, 6500 Palma Ave. in Atascadero. The outdoor screening is free and open to the public; food and drinks will be available for purchase.
For more information, contact Paula Anton at (805) 470-3472 or panton@atascadero.org.
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“How to Train Your Dragon” image courtesy of MovieWeb.com.
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