How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is the third film in the lucrative animated series for Dreamworks, and this effort promises to put a cap on the trilogy that might end here, at least in terms of cinematic releases, unless it makes another boat load of money, which it just might do.  Although I was one of the few not very enamored with the second entry, which some fans think is even better than the first, The Hidden World ends well for the series, and does contain a handful of genuinely touching moments that make up for its simplistic story-line, and a formulaic plot that serves only to give a modicum of conflict amid a couple of character developments, mostly involving families and the future, that serves to tie up the Hiccup/Toothless saga in a satisfying way.

We’ve seen Hiccup go from boy to teen in the prior efforts, and here we find him into adulthood, young but now the leader among the Dragon-rescuing Vikings of their island fortress village of Berk.  Though the Vikings have lived in Berk for generations, Hiccup soon sees that they’ve outgrown their small island, especially with the overcrowding of the Dragons there as they rescue more of them, eyeing the mythical sanctuary on the edge of the world to guide these magical beasts.  Meanwhile, love may be in the air, with Hiccup perhaps on the verge of marriage with Astrid, though she seems reticent, and Toothless perhaps finding a mate with a female Dragon very much like him, dubbed a “Light Fury” due to its alabaster color, in contrast to Toothless’ obsidian appearance.

The obligatory villain of this third entry is Grimmel, who happens to be a hunter of the Night Fury breed of Dragons.  There’s not much motivation here except that we learn that he was praised in his youth for killing a Night Fury, and that early praise has somehow manifested itself in his desire to continue killing them til none are left.  He is cunning and has an accent, so, basically, a typical movie villain.  The best thing about The Hidden World is to some degree what was the best thing about its predecessor: it’s a fine-looking piece of computer-generated animation.  Fluid flight sequences, photo-realistic environs, and cute character models all add up to one of the more eye-popping adventures you’ll likely see this year.  Combine that with the continuation of the rousing score that has been there all along, and you may find yourself swept away by the marriage of image to music independent of whether you’re actually compelled by the story or character plight themselves.

Supporting players are here, but the take more of a back seat this time out to the main core of heroes, as well as its main villain, plus the new dragon.  Given how many characters bogged down the second entry, it’s a welcome departure to not continue to give them screen time when it isn’t necessary, but there also isn’t much in the main story that will surprise anyone not new to the world of narratives.  We know that Hiccup and Astrid, who are being encouraged by the village to get married, will overcome their apprehension by the end. We know that a female Night Fury that Toothless is instantly smitten by will become part of the group, and part of his life in a very big way.  It is easy to surmise early on that the ending of the film will feature a marriage and an announcement that either a human or a dragon is pregnant, and that predictability is a liability.  However, kudos to the makers of the film for still delivering a good final ten minutes to the film despite it, as there is a genuinely thoughtful and original way that it is presented that will likely land very well for those who’ve grown to like this saga and its characters.  (I personally didn’t shed a tear, but I didn’t begrudge those around me that did.)

Though I truly enjoy the first entry in this trilogy, I’ll continue to be in the minority in feeling that the sequels aren’t as up to the story-telling and world-building standards set forth in the original.  The plots are not very interesting, the villains even less so, and what’s left are moments crafted either to be cute or cloying in ways that seem to work the opposite to me than they must to most other viewers who enjoy these films through and through.  I’ll wager that much of your own reaction will come down to how much emotional connection you already feel for these characters going into it.  If you’re someone who actually feels scared when Hiccup or Toothless are in peril, The Hidden World should have much more weight, but for someone like me, who isn’t nearly as invested, and who is looking for each story to renew the effort to draw me in, these moments feel weightless and manipulative.  Such an opinion doesn’t win me any friends among fans, but an only argue that if you watched this entry without the emotional momentum of the first two entries going into it, perhaps you’d see things my way.

Qwipster’s grade: B-

MPAA Rated: PG for adventure action and some mild rude humor
Running Time: 104 min.

Cast: Jay Baruchel, F. Murray Abraham, America Ferrera, Kit Harington, Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill, Gerard Butler, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Ferguson
Director: Dean DeBlois
Screenplay: Dean DeBlois