Hiccup: Jay Baruchel
Valka: Cate Blanchett
Stoick: Gerard Butler
Gobber: Craig Ferguson
Astrid: America Ferrera
Snotlout: Jonah Hill
Fishlegs: Christopher Mintz-Plaase
Tuffnut: T.J. Miller
Ruffnut: Kristen Wiig
Drago: Djimon Hounsou
Eret: Kit Harrington
DreamWorks Animation
presents a film written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Based on the book series “How
To Train Your Dragon” by Cressida Cowell. Running time: 102 min. Rated PG (for
adventure action and some mild rude humor).
I have a cineaste friend who
hated, hated, hated “How To Train Your Dragon”. Just the thought of hating that
rather harmless movie seems odd to me. I mean it wouldn’t surprise me for
someone to dislike it. But, to “hate”
it. Well, that’s a level of displeasure reserved for Ed Wood movies, or
Transformers. I think it more likely that he hated the fact that it had such
universal success.
I found the original “How To
Train Your Dragon” to be rather inoffensive. It wasn’t some magical piece of
classic animated cinema or anything, but it was pleasurable in a rather
innocent way. It didn’t break any new ground in terms of family entertainment.
It certainly didn’t strive to be anymore than a family entertainment aimed
primarily at children. But, I really can’t cite a whole lot with which to find
fault. That’s pretty much how I feel about its successor, the aptly named “How
To Train Your Dragon 2”.
In fact, I might say the
second time around takes the characters into slightly deeper grounds, involving
familial misunderstanding, not holding grudges, remaining loyal and advocating diplomatic
resolution above war. Don’t get me wrong. It doesn’t get very deep with any of
these thematic elements, but the needle twitches a little.
For take two we find Hiccup
has grown into full adolescence, going so far as to abuse his hero status in
his home kingdom of Berk into disappearing during important contests and events
to map out the far reaches of the Viking world. Meanwhile his girlfriend,
Astrid, is becoming the city’s champion and his father, Stoick, wants to pass
the crown on to his ever-absent son. Hiccup still has his trusted dragon
Toothless, a rare Night Fury that strikes fear in all those who know of the
species despite his rather innocent looks, friendly nature and diminutive
stature for a dragon.
While out on a mapping
mission, Hiccup and Toothless discover dragon thieves working for the
mysterious Drago, who plans to steal all the dragons to form his own dragon
army to conquer the world. Hiccup believes he can convince Drago that his plan
is unnecessary, but before he can do that he discovers another dragon rider
living in a hidden fortress populated by thousands of dragons and one alpha
dragon who can control them all. Wouldn’t you know it; Drago also has an alpha
of his own.
While the diplomacy message
is certainly there, this is most definitely lightweight material. Still it’s
well made and looks great on the screen. I would’ve liked to see more new
dragons introduced and gotten to know more about them as sentient beings,
especially considering the development of the alphas and their ability to
control other dragons.
It was wise of the
filmmakers to limit the amount on new human characters, however. This
mysterious dragon rider—whose connection to Hiccup I will allow you to discover
for yourself—Drago, and one of the dragon thieves are pretty much it in terms
of new cast members. This allows the filmmakers a little more time to explore
just a little bit about how the old characters have grown and changed. There
are some funny gags involving the other girl member of Hiccup’s team, Ruffnut,
and how Snotlout and Fishlegs desire to woo her. But, that dragon thief is
awfully hunky compared to those old childhood friends.
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