Movie Review: How to train your Dragon 2 (2014)
Written by Anthony Sargon
If you were to ask me which of Dreamworks’ films was the closest to something Pixar would make, my answer would resoundingly be 2010′s How to Train Your Dragon. With gorgeous art-direction, animation, and a heart-warming story about a boy and his dragon, it made for some incredible family entertainment, and opened the doors to a magical new world for us to further explore. How to Train Your Dragon 2 is even better.
The story takes place five years after the events of the first film. The Viking village of Berk is now a harmonious land where man and dragon live together in pure bliss. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), who’s now 20 years old, spends most of his time with Toothless soaring high in the sky, discovering new lands. But things quickly take a turn for the worst when the pair discovers that a man called Drago Bludvist (Djimon Hounsou) is building a giant dragon army and is hell-bent on chaos and destruction. It’s up to our two heroes along with new and returning characters to put an end to his dangerous schemes.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 does everything a great sequel should do. Instead of rehashing what happened last time, it expands the story and the world by taking us to new places and introducing us to great new characters. It’s also darker and more mature, which makes the consequences feel all the more dire and serious. There are some pretty heavy moments in the film, and I applaud director Dean DeBois for having the stones to go there.
The film’s art-direction is arguably the most beautiful I have ever seen in a 3D animated toon, and I’d urge everyone to shell-out the extra cash for 3D and premium formats. It really is worth it. DeBois takes full advantage of the fact that this is a movie about dragons, so we spend a lot of time between the clouds, and it’s incredible.
What really makes the film work, though, is the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless. I love the fact that Toothless (and every other dragon) is basically a giant puppy, and he’s as adorable and lovable as ever. While their relationship does take a dark and complex turn this time around, it still absolutely works, which is a testament to the film’s amazing storytelling. The voice work is also great, with the standouts being Gerard Butler as Hiccup’s dad, Stoik, and a Cate Blanchett as a new character that I won’t reveal here.
The Verdict:
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is amazing entertainment that can literally appeal to anyone who enjoys great storytelling. It’s a brilliant sequel that isn’t afraid to take risks, and it’s one you definitely do not want to miss.
Numerical Score: 9.5/10
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