For a love story, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, has a fair amount of action. Oh yeah, this is definitely a love story; for the themes of friendship, understanding, bigotry, and infestation, Dragon Training 3 is all about the love: Chieftain Hiccup and Queen-to-be Astrid (voice of America Ferrera) subjugate their obvious affection, Toothless the Night Fury has met his photonegative match, Snotlout (Jonah Hill) has fallen for Hiccup’s mom (Cate Blanchett), and the denizens of Berk collectively have a dragon fetish. Oh yes they do.
Berk has something of a dragon overpopulation situation. The human Berkas seem ok with it, but, honestly, you can’t even take a nap without accidentally winning a game of dragonhide ‘n’ seek. It doesn’t help that the local government seems 100% intent on dragon freedom fighting. Head man Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is badass, appearing out of nowhere on your ship with a flaming sword and a minor death wish. He has come to liberate the dragon booty you captured!
Now hold up a sec. Regardless of how I feel about dragon poaching or whatever, isn’t this piracy? I mean, suppose a Japanese whaler catches a beluga and Greenpeace swoops on board and sets the thing free, aggressively, fighting captain and crew with weapons to get their way. Wouldn’t you call Greenpeace “pirates?” And wouldn’t you be right? Berk justice leaves a little to be desired in my book.
None of that matters, apparently, as the poaching fleet commander, Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham), doesn’t seem to be all that fussed about losing inventory; he’s more into a personal vendetta against Night Furies, of which Toothless appears to be the last. What is his secret weapon to eradicate the furies for good? A “Light” Fury, the pigment-challenged female version of the species. Watch out, Toothless, and get ready to don some Draco Noir or maybe Battle Axe body spray, c’mon, baby, light my fire.
So basically, El Jefe Hiccup has gotta fend off Grimmel, call an exterminator (or find this “dragon paradise” his dad kept yammerin’ about), and then act as wing man to his winged pal. The dragon courting scenes are the best in the film and probably worth the trouble as is.
Jay Baruchel is quickly adding himself to the ranks of Ralph Macchio and Alex Winter as “guys you kinda only know from that one role.” Oh, he’s good at it. Nobody else could match that nasal tenor for balancing moral indecision and “guy who has to prove to you he knows what he’s doing.” If these films go on, I see trouble ahead; Jay Baruchel is never going to strike you as an undisputed ruler and unless Berk would like to invent a parliament, there will always be a challenge to King Hiccup.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a fine attempt to mask the idea that the franchise never should have become a franchise. The original was near perfect, showed exactly what it needed to show, said exactly what it needed to say, and should have left it at that. As there is precious little insight remaining among the principals of How to Train Your Dragon, the franchise has been inventing new controversies since 2010 and playing it off like this isn’t contrivance or filler. Don’t get me wrong; this is a delightful film; for one thing, it’s beautiful – if you are inclined, see it on the biggest screen you are able to summon – and it will make you laugh and cry at least a little. But it doesn’t hold a candle to the original gem and, thus, feels like a holiday episode of your favorite TV show. But, hey, I really, really love this show.
♪Valka, do you remember when we raided Jan? (raided Jan)
We kicked some booty from nightfall until dawn (until dawn)
I could tell you liked me from the way you care (way you care)
You are concerned that I am not all there (not all there)
Hiccup’s mom has got it goin’ on
Viking horns and a fire proof thong
Sire, don’t treat me like I can’t be the Queen’s bee
Don’t care if it’s right or wrong♫
Rated PG, 104 Minutes
Director: Dean DeBlois
Writer: Dean DeBlois
Genre: Romance, cartoon-style
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Dragon trainers
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: CEOs
♪ Parody Inspired by “Stacy’s Mom”
