How To Train Your Dragon 2 review

[*Warning* Watching this film may cause obsession with all things dragon and result in crippling disappointment that there is a) no such existing thing and b) you do not, and cannot, in fact, ever ride one.]

When How To Train Your Dragon came out in 2010, no-one would have expected that it would become one of the most well-loved animations of the last decade, but it almost instantaneously became a fan favourite after children (and adults) everywhere fell in love with the movie's heart-felt charm and witty wonder.



Originally based on the book of the same name by author Cressida Cowell, it was not only the unusual and creatively thought-up dragons that made everyone like the stories but the way the stories could resonate so well with any aged viewer and how it made us well-up and laugh all at the same time.

Four years is a long time to wait between installments, especially when a film franchise is as adored as this one, but the time it took to make the second film is definitely justified when you're [finally] watching it. 

Nowadays, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is all grown up and fills his days exploring different lands around Berk with his old "bud", Toothless. All he cares about is dragons, finding new ones to marvel at and discovering new lands and learning about the world around him. When his Dad, Stoick (Gerard Butler) asks him to succeed him as Berk's chief, Hiccup stars to question his ability to lead and whether he actually wants to follow in his father's footsteps. 

His lack of confidence in himself is put to the ultimate test when he finds himself having to stand against a new enemy, hellbent on ruling dragons everywhere and overthrowing anyone that gets in his way. As Stoick wants to prepare for war, Hiccup takes charge and urges the people of Berk to fight in peace, not in violence and takes matters into in his own hands when they go up against their rival, powerful dragon master, Drago.

But Hiccup soon learns that his responsibility is not only to save Berk and their dragons this time but to help a whole land of weird and beautiful dragons he's never even seen before, which is under the protection of mysterious and highly-skilled dragon rider, Valka, from being taken over by Drago. 

With the help of his friends, Astrid, Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Fishlegs, Valka and of course, Toothless, Hiccup realises that you don't have to be the biggest, strongest or the loudest to be a great leader, you just have to have heart, a bit of a brain and a great team to stand beside you. (Having a plasma-blasting Night Fury as a best friend doesn't hurt either, of course).

On the surface, How To Train Your Dragon 2, like the first, IS a kid's film, but at no point as an older viewer does it feel like you're watching something that's been made easy for younger audiences to understand. In fact, even director Dean DeBlois has been quoted saying that "None of it is pandering to children" and that's more than evident throughout. Its story may lean slightly towards the simple side but it has far more emotional depth than that of cartoons such as Despicable Me or Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. It doesn't employ dumbed-down jokes or slapstick as a way to make the audience laugh but rather well written, often sarcastic, much more adult humour. There's no little round, yellow things laughing at the word 'bottom' and calling it funny here. 

Whilst in most animations, there's normally underlying morals and life lessons to be expected, Dragon 2 taps into it's emotional side so well that despite the farfetched content, you find yourself putting yourself in Hiccup's shoes and realising you too have similar worries as a young Viking dragon rider. Unexpected, huh? But that's down to great writing and the way in which the characters feel so real and genuine. It's ability to combine history, fantasy AND real-life drama puts it head and shoulders above most animations released in the last few years and makes for a much more intelligent and well-constructed movie. 

All of the character development in How To Train Your Dragon 2 is well executed and even though misunderstood Hiccup's relationship with his father (and the rest of his family) is a real tearjerker in this one, it's Hiccup and Toothless' bond that will really leave you with a lump in your throat throughout most of the movie. The unlikely best friends could teach us a thing or two about understanding, loyalty and trust and it really does tug at your heartstrings relentlessly all the way through. 

Visually, the movie is an absolute pleasure to watch and sets the standard of what animation should look like 2014 onwards. It is particularly a spectacle in 3D. It's easy to understand with a film of this subject that for once, paying the extra few pounds to see the dragons whizzing in and out of the clouds in 3D is warranted. But it's not only that. The clarity, colour use and design itself is beyond impressive.  

Its cool, it's incredibly endearing and sweet, and will no doubt cater to everybody in the audience from boy to girl, from those aged 5 to 50. For years now, there's been no question that powerhouse Disney have been the most successful production company to churn out great animation after great animation but it's evident that Dreamworks is really stepping up their game when it comes to the genre if the likes of Oscar-nominated The Croods and now this, is anything to go on. Look out Walt, you've got a serious contender for the throne.