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I remember how gloriously shocked and awed I was at the original How to Train Your Dragon, here was an open-hearted film that boiled down to a troubled youth and his pet getting to know each other and have an adventure. It was mercifully free of the of-the-moment pop culture gags that were dated before the movie even premiered like Shark Tale, and not a single goofy montage was set to well-known pop song that felt distractingly wedged in like the later Shrek films.
How to Train Your Dragon was mild tempered and more concerned with world building than anything else that Dreamworks typically releases. It was a lovely change of pace, but it didn’t smooth my fears about a sequel once it was announced. Once more, Dreamworks track record with this sort of thing was not on their side.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 doesn’t quite match its exquisite predecessor, but it also doesn’t fail in the slightest bit. The third act may be a bit of a disappointment, but Dragon 2 is another entry in the series which prides itself on mostly quietly enjoying the scenery, introducing us to a variation of beautifully designed and strange creatures, and even more world building and expanding its mythology.
In the five years since the first film, this sequel has moved in real-time, picking its story five years down the line as well. Now an adult and due to inherit the rule of Berk, Hiccup is happier to spend his time flying around with Toothless exploring uncharted lands and creating a map of the outside world. Along the way, Hiccup reunites with his estranged, long believed dead, mother, and battle with the villain Drago.
The groundwork is laid for a spectacular feature, and while the animation is beyond gorgeous, the story has two major setbacks. First, Valka, Hiccup’s mother, is a wasted opportunity. A character given a mysterious and daring introduction, a huge build-up, and several highly emotional scenes before being removed from the major action and turned into a minor supporting player. It’s a bait-and-switch, a character that we think is going to be prominent turned into a wasted opportunity. Second, is Drago and his entire third-act which disrupts the quiet nature of the film with a big, loud action sequence. Drago is another character who is all build-up with little-to-no payoff. These choices harm a movie that is otherwise completely engaging and enjoyable. They don’t harm it beyond taking it from an A to a solid B but it had potential for more.
