How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2

One of the greatest joys of movie watching occurs when a sequel is as good or better than the original, and such is the case with DreamWorks new animated movie, How to Train Your Dragon 2.  I never quite connected with the original, having seen it twice, feeling there was something important missing from its formula.  Part two, however, suffers from no such malady.  It is warm, funny, action-packed and even tragic, much as the classic Disney animated films in their day.

Five years after Hiccup first convinces his Viking village to accept dragons instead of hunting them down, everything has changed for the better.  The whole village loves their dragons, and vice versa.  All that changes, though, when Hiccup discovers that a legendary dragon trapper is heading their way with plans to conquer everything in his path.  Hiccup believes his fate is to intervene and prevent war and sets out on his own — with Toothless the dragon, of course — to save his village.  But his destiny is going to surprise everyone, especially himself, as ghosts from the past come alive and the threat of war causes casualties close to home.

Just about everything blends together and works perfectly in Dean DeBlois’ film, which is targeted at young audiences but has rewards for all ages.  It is by turns genuinely funny, moving, heartbreaking and inspiring.  The flying sequences and scenic wonders are beautiful to behold, the characters are sharply delineated and delightfully voiced, the tone is charming at all the right points and when bad things happen they are dealt with honestly and thoughtfully.

The action sequences are, like so many others of this day and age, so swiftly paced that it is difficult to keep up with and really enjoy the kinetic chaos.  Remember in the good old days when Godzilla stomped through Tokyo in slow motion, providing the audience palpable thrills as the miniature set models blasted apart?  Such sweet pleasure is absent here because the brain struggles to follow the multiple paths and battles that swarm the screen.  At least my brain struggles with it; I’d rather the action just slow down and be detailed so I can partake in its delights.  But that’s the only quibble I have with this movie.

Dragon 2 is a better film than the original, in my opinion.  That is a difficult trick to produce in live action films, but it seems to occur more often in animated series.  In any case, it is a delightful movie that everyone should find worthwhile and rewarding. I highly recommend it.  ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2.  27 June 2014.

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