HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD

US, 2019, 104 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, F.Murray Abraham, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse?, Kit Harrington, Olafur Darri Olafsson.
Directed by Don De Blois.

Dragons.

More dragons – and even more. Dragon battles, Dragon abductions.

And, dragons in love.

This is the third in the series based on novels by Cassandra Cowell. The first two were very entertaining, going back into the Viking era, into the world where dragons flew the skies, where humans and dragons could live in harmony despite ever-present dangers. There was some charm in the story of the young man, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), and his bonding with the black dragon, Toothless. There was also the strong Astrid (America Ferrera), with her eye on Hiccup but also bossing him around. There was Hiccup’s mother (Cate Blanchett), the old Stoick (Gerard Butler). And, reminding us that there were also nerds around in Viking days, the brash young ones (Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse)

They are all back again plus an arch villain, a mercenary employed by a tough Viking community to abduct dragons, Grimmel (F.Murray Abraham).

The film starts with a raid by Hiccup and co to rescue imprisoned dragons. This gives the tone to the film, a touch of darkness, the place of the dragons, the mercenaries, but the happy community of Hiccup and his family providing a refuge for dragons.

The plot thickens when the enemy find a young white Dragon and use her as a ploy to lure Toothless as they fall in love. Interventions by Grimmel, defeating Hiccup, and more battles and rescues.

It is a pleasure to see the animation and hear the voices again – but it is rather repetitious, battles and the dragons wanting to have a hidden refuge away from humans. And there is a nice little romantic footnote at the end.

1. The popularity of the first two films? Their charm? Their sense of adventure? The imagination?

2. The world of the Vikings, the recreation of this world, islands, homes, ships, battles?

3. The popularity of the dragons, the role of Toothless and his friendship with Hiccup, his being trained? This film and the multitude of dragons, the opening, the imprisonment on the ship, Hiccup and the confused and noisy rescue? The liberation? The range of dragons, their coming to the island, colourful for the dragons, big and small, playful but prone to destruction…?

4. The introduction to the characters in the community, Hiccup and his leadership, leading the rescue mission, bonding with Toothless, being pursued by Astrid, the role of his mother? The young Vikings, Viking nerds? Stoick and his presence? The Viking with an eye on Hiccup’s mother?

5. The story of the hidden world and its being a refuge for the dragons? Hiccup changing his mind, the desire to help the dragons to the New World?

6. The enemy Vikings, imprisoning the dragons, hiring Grimmel, his sinister personality, his promise, the confrontations with Hiccup, the ploy of the young Dragon, attracting Toothless, Hiccup and his adding the tail for Toothless?

7. The romantic interludes? The consequences, the young Dragon being taken, Toothless and his pursuit? The confrontation with Grimmel and his defeat?

8. The community reunited, sending off the dragons, the farewell?

9. The wedding, everybody happy?

10. The postscript, Hiccup and Astrid and their children, the encounter with Toothless and his wife and their children, happy ending?