Movie Info
Movie Name: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Studio: DreamWorks Animation
Genre(s): Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Animated/Action/Adventure/Family
Release Date(s): January 3, 2019 (Australia)/February 22, 2019 (US)
MPAA Rating: PG
More kids demanded long Night Fury courting scenes apparently
The people of Berk continue to live in peace with dragons and free dragons from traders surrounding their home as Hiccup tries to become the leader his people need. The defeated Vikings call in help from dragon hunter Grimmel the Grisly who has a plan for Hiccop’s dragon Toothless. When Toothless meets a fellow female Night Fury, Hiccup finds he might be losing his dragon forever…and that could just be what Grimmel wants.
Directed by Dean DeBlois, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (or How to Train Your Dragon 3) is an animated action-adventure family fantasy. Following How to Train Your Dragon 2 in 2014, the film was well received by critics and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
How to Train Your Dragon and How to Train Your Dragon 2 were surprisingly entertaining films. I didn’t go in expecting much and found them better than I hoped. The lead up to How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World felt like forever, and the anticipation hurt the movie for me.
Who needs dragons?
The movie isn’t bad, but it doesn’t feel like it has the same heart of the first couple films. Grimmel is a weak villain and his goal doesn’t seem very inspired or compelling. The rest of the pirates are non-villains and even the Berk characters developed in the previous film feel like they are just given lines. The ending is supposed to tug at your heartstrings with Hiccup saying goodbye to Toothless, but it also feels that the movie crawls at points to an obvious conclusion (which they back out of when they meet again later).
The cast remains solid. Jay Baruchel gives Hiccup heart and shows how far the character has come while America Ferrera is little sidelined through most of the cast. F. Murray Abraham revels in his evilness but his character seems paper thin. Cate Blanchett provides voice of Hiccup’s mother, but she too feels like she doesn’t have much of a role. Craig Ferguson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, Kit Harington, Gerard Butler, David Tennant, and others provide voice work.
Goodbye…for about 3 minutes
The movie remains visually stunning. I love the set designs for the location, and the characters designs have grown on me. The variety of the islands, the dragons, and the characters helps showcase the artists’ skill.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden Kingdom feels like the end of a storyline and that is good. Of the three movies, this was my least favorite. The look and style of the movie holds up, but the story just doesn’t carry as much weight and emotion. The movie technically leaves the movie open to a sequel (a la Toy Story 3), but I hope they choose to let sleeping dragons lie.
Related Links:
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury (2011)
