How to Train Your Dragon 2 Review

How to Train Your Dragon 2
D: Dean DeBlois
W: Dean DeBlois
S: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Djimon Hounsou, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Kit Harrington, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig

Hiccup and Tootless return in the sequel to the 2010 hit animated film How to Train Your Dragon (2010, Dir. Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders). This time around the dragons and vikings are the best of buddies, with each viking having their own dragon that they can fly and play games with. With this new found friendship, Hiccup (voiced again by Jay Baruchel) takes to the skies and discovers new lands, and his long lost Mother (voiced by Cate Blanchett). But all is not well in this world as our heroes find out that an evil dragon hunter named Drago Bludvist (voiced by Djimon Hounsou) is hunting down dragons to create an army to take over the world. Of course!

Just a brief review of the first film. I thought the first film was a well written, smart, and fun animated film. The real highlight of the film was the animation, you really do get the feeling of flight and the grand scale oF it through though shots. The sad part of this is that I saw it on DVD and not on the big screen. When I heard about the sequel I vowed to not miss it on the big screen. Another great thing about the film is John Powell's Oscar nominated score. My words can not properly describe how AMAZING the music is, so I'll just post a link. By the way, all my friends out there who jog, it is great music to listen to while you're jogging.

One more thing I have to say before I get to the review, I absolutely LOVE Toothless the Dragon. It is such a great design and he's able to display his emotions and characteristics vividly. He's got the stealth and fierceness of a Panther, but is cute and lovable like a Labrador. I think I speak for everyone by saying, we all want a Toothless in our life. Seriously, look at him. D'awwww.

NOW... onto the squeal. This was everything that the first film was and more. It is spectacular. First off, YES you should totally check it out in 3D, this is a rare case when the 3D compliments the movie and gives it a third dimension. 

I love how in this film it isn't just a retread of the previous film, it takes everything to the next step, in one aspect it's about Hiccup maturing and becoming the Chieftain of his village. But it takes another step in the story with its message. In the previous film it was pretty much about discrimination against the unknown, in this movie it's about the animals and the influence people can make on them. 

It parallels a philosophy that myself and many others have regarding dogs, "There's no bad dog, just bad owners." The movie looks at how to gain an animals trust and make a connection, with Hiccup he had developed a trust with Toothless by giving him time and showing him that he was nice. Whereas Drago Bludvist (by the way, that's an awesome villain name) just forces them to join him, he traps them, and sends out others to trap them. He's using them to just gain his own power. It's a great aspect of the film and it even puts Toothless and Hiccup's friendship to the test at one point. 

There isn't that much to complain about this movie except for, ugh... I really wish they did get a better voice selection for Hiccup. Jay Baruchel isn't bad, but his shtick of "Um well I'm sort of awkward and uh... yeah I guess I'll improve a lot my lines," does get a bit annoying for me. I mean at this point he's suppose older and probably more mature. Also why don't he and the other kids do Scottish accents? I don't know, this is probably me just nitpicking. 

Also I felt that the other kids could've been handled better. Most of the time they're just kind of annoying comic relief, except for Astrid (America Ferrera) and Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), but some of the others were trying to hard to be comic relief when it wasn't necessary. We already have Craig Ferguson, don't really need any others. 

Seriously, I freaking love this guy. 

But like I said, there's not much to complain about. It's fun, energetic, heartfelt, and is a definitely more than worthy begin seen in 3D. Go check it out.