There is always a sense of trepidation when it comes to sequels of great movies. It is a gamble when determining whether to improve on an already great work or leave it alone. But then again, for every Matrix trilogy, there is a Dark Knight series, for every Lion King 2 and 3, there is a Toy Story world, and for every terrible Cars sequel there is now the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.
Unlike many franchises that have populated the film industry, DreamWorks took their time with the How to Train Your Dragon films, letting the audience grow up and evolve along with Hiccup and Toothless over a span of almost a decade, making it all the more bittersweet to finally say goodbye to the beloved characters.
How to Train Your Dragon in 2010 brought us the lanky Hiccup, son and very reluctant heir of the strapping Viking chief Stoick. He does not fit into the archetypal Viking mould, although their trademark love for exploration is what led him to find and befriend a Night Fury, who he names Toothless. Over the course of the trilogy, the tale of the boy and his dragon remained central to the story, as did the themes of co-existence between the Vikings and those they once feared, discovery and loss of parents, and finding the inner resolve to lead.
Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera return as Hiccup and Astrid for one last time, delivering performances on par with the ones given earlier, as do Cate Blanchett as Valka, Kit Harington as Eret Son of Eret, Jonah Hill as Snotlout, Craig Ferguson as Gobber, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fishlegs. The funniest parts of the movie, however, come from the incessant snarky banter between the twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut, voiced with gleeful aplomb by Kristen Wiig and T.J. Miller.
Writer-director Dean DeBlois has created a simple storyline that allows those who have not followed the franchise to ease into it almost immediately. With the multiplying dragon population at Berk putting up a figurative ‘Come Get Us’ board for the world to see, Hiccup must lead his people and dragons to lasting peace at the titular (and rather convenient) Hidden World—an Utopian abode for dragons to reside till mankind is ready for them.
Also in the mix is Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham), a hardened dragon hunter with frankly unconvincing motives for wiping out the Night Fury population. Yes, the ‘thrill of the hunt’ is exclaimed more than once, but there is little back story given as to why he is so bent on eradicating dragons, except expository statements vaguely reminiscent of Stoick before his transformation to an understanding father figure. Ultimately however, the real conflict lies in the emotional realm as Hiccup must come to terms when to let go and move on.
Astrid is portrayed as duly badass and supportive, but seems to receive no support in return, bringing to mind questions of whether the strong female character has been reduced to an emotional prop for the protagonist. John Powell returns stronger than ever with his Academy Award nominated score, adding new layers to an already amazing soundtrack. Ultimately, doubts about the strength of the story are instantly obliterated in the face of the animated brilliance that is Toothless.
DreamWorks has definitely upped the ante with their animation for this one, with a single twitch of the eye communicating more than words ever could, especially at the emotional conclusion.
All in all, what DreamWorks has done is bring a film that glows with family friendly humour, raise relevant questions about co-existence and letting go, and manage to make an adult become emotionally invested in ‘a malnourished runt with bad hair and a twig for a neck’, and his cat-dog-flootball amalgamation of a dragon – all without being Pixar. And if that is not praise-worthy, then what is?
Film: How to Train Your Dragon 3 – The Hidden World
Director: Dean DeBlois
Cast: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, F. Murray Abraham, Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, TJ Miller, Jonah Hill, Kit Harington
Rating: 3.50/5
