The "How to Train Your Dragon" series has become big business for DreamWorks Animation, who've gone beyond movies to deliver video games, books, and multiple television shows that detail the epic fantasy world where humans and dragons are learning to live with each other, often heroically. That's all well and good, but the real magic of the franchise is found on the big screen (the biggest, if you can find it), with "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" the most awe-inspiring and thrilling of a trilogy that began in 2010. Closing out the saga of Hiccup and his pal Toothless, writer/director Dean DeBlois gets a little sentimental with the second sequel, but his aim is to end things as excitingly as possible, delivering a healthy amount of action and discovery, along with plenty of Viking tomfoolery. While lacking the sweep of the last chapter, "The Hidden World" makes up for the loss in other ways, with DeBlois crafting a divinely animated, supremely felt effort.
Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) has tried to build a utopia for his fellow Vikings and friendly dragons, hoping to turn Berk into a permanent home for the new society. He's done well, creating the Dragon Riders team with girlfriend Astrid (America Ferrera), twins Tuffnut (Justin Rupple) and Ruffnut (Kristen Wiig), Snotlout (Jonah Hill), and Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), but trouble returns to the land when dragon hunter Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham) emerges with plans to capture Toothless, the last Night Fury. Sensing change is needed to protect his people and winged friends, Hiccup organizes a move to find The Hidden World, a mythical realm of dragons, with hopes to keep the creatures from human harm. However, as Grimmel works out a plan to collect his prize, Toothless finds his match in a Light Fury, with the restless dragon suddenly finding maturity as he gets close to a possible mate.
While there's no major technological upgrade to "The Hidden World," DeBlois is certainly more comfortable with the world of the Dragon Riders and the cinematic potential of their quests. The story picks up a year after "How to Train Your Dragon 2," but a lot has changed for Hiccup, who's now a man prepped for royal rule, leading his fellow Berkians into battle with a flaming sword and a tireless quest to protect all dragons, with the feature's introduction showcasing Dragon Riders teamwork as they manage a rescue mission, making first contact with the mystery of the Light Fury. "The Hidden World" is teeming with gorgeous vistas, fluid flights, and richly detailed character animation, with DeBlois submitting a more refined vision for series highlights, amplifying movement and capturing nuances to best prepare the movie for its eventual dive into highly effective emotionality concerning Toothless's future.
The Night Fury remains as rambunctious as ever, enjoying his position as Hiccup's partner, keeping his friend soaring through the skies. The screenplay takes a longer look at the inner needs of the dragon, with DeBlois comfortable enough to go for long stretches of screen time just focusing on Toothless's silent quest to capture the Light Fury's attention. She's an enigma, and one with the ability to teleport that wows onlookers, but "The Hidden World" has a good time with her position as love interest for Toothless, who embarks on elaborate courtship rituals that bring big laughs to the picture. Hiccup has his own matrimonial questions to be answered during the course of the film, and the team is slowly divided by destiny, with dragon and man offered opportunities to become the leaders they're meant to be.
Character is prized by DeBlois, who fits in little bits of mischief for the Vikings, finding Snotlout crushing on Valka (Cate Blanchett), Hiccup's mother; Tuffnut becomes a romantic advisor for the leader; and Fishlegs takes on the responsibility of caring for a baby dragon. While Hiccup focuses on the plan at hand, he's also reminded of his childhood with Stoic (a gentle and warm Gerard Butler), who plants the seed about The Hidden World in tender flashbacks to their tight bond. And while Grimmel is not a profound threat to Berk, the villain has a menacing fixation on destroying the last Night Fury, leading his pack of goons and acid-spewing dragons on an effective path of domination, searching for Hiccup with plans to destroy the very idea of Berk.
"The Hidden World" has its thrills (propped up by John Powell's rousing score), with a defined interest in swordfights and mid-air dragon battles, making the run time fly by. However, the focal point of the movie remains where it should: on Hiccup and Toothless. Finding themselves easing out of their codependent relationship, the pair discovers maturity and a path to peace, and DeBlois isn't about to allow fans of the series to leave without becoming a blubbering mess. He's earned the emotion, helping to guide the "How to Train Your Dragon" series from a magical discovery nine years ago to this gem -- the closing act on one of the best animated trilogies around. It's difficult to part with such lush, amusing, and electrifying fantasy storytelling, but the production is careful to exit on a pitch-perfect note of hope.
Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) has tried to build a utopia for his fellow Vikings and friendly dragons, hoping to turn Berk into a permanent home for the new society. He's done well, creating the Dragon Riders team with girlfriend Astrid (America Ferrera), twins Tuffnut (Justin Rupple) and Ruffnut (Kristen Wiig), Snotlout (Jonah Hill), and Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), but trouble returns to the land when dragon hunter Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham) emerges with plans to capture Toothless, the last Night Fury. Sensing change is needed to protect his people and winged friends, Hiccup organizes a move to find The Hidden World, a mythical realm of dragons, with hopes to keep the creatures from human harm. However, as Grimmel works out a plan to collect his prize, Toothless finds his match in a Light Fury, with the restless dragon suddenly finding maturity as he gets close to a possible mate.
While there's no major technological upgrade to "The Hidden World," DeBlois is certainly more comfortable with the world of the Dragon Riders and the cinematic potential of their quests. The story picks up a year after "How to Train Your Dragon 2," but a lot has changed for Hiccup, who's now a man prepped for royal rule, leading his fellow Berkians into battle with a flaming sword and a tireless quest to protect all dragons, with the feature's introduction showcasing Dragon Riders teamwork as they manage a rescue mission, making first contact with the mystery of the Light Fury. "The Hidden World" is teeming with gorgeous vistas, fluid flights, and richly detailed character animation, with DeBlois submitting a more refined vision for series highlights, amplifying movement and capturing nuances to best prepare the movie for its eventual dive into highly effective emotionality concerning Toothless's future.
The Night Fury remains as rambunctious as ever, enjoying his position as Hiccup's partner, keeping his friend soaring through the skies. The screenplay takes a longer look at the inner needs of the dragon, with DeBlois comfortable enough to go for long stretches of screen time just focusing on Toothless's silent quest to capture the Light Fury's attention. She's an enigma, and one with the ability to teleport that wows onlookers, but "The Hidden World" has a good time with her position as love interest for Toothless, who embarks on elaborate courtship rituals that bring big laughs to the picture. Hiccup has his own matrimonial questions to be answered during the course of the film, and the team is slowly divided by destiny, with dragon and man offered opportunities to become the leaders they're meant to be.
Character is prized by DeBlois, who fits in little bits of mischief for the Vikings, finding Snotlout crushing on Valka (Cate Blanchett), Hiccup's mother; Tuffnut becomes a romantic advisor for the leader; and Fishlegs takes on the responsibility of caring for a baby dragon. While Hiccup focuses on the plan at hand, he's also reminded of his childhood with Stoic (a gentle and warm Gerard Butler), who plants the seed about The Hidden World in tender flashbacks to their tight bond. And while Grimmel is not a profound threat to Berk, the villain has a menacing fixation on destroying the last Night Fury, leading his pack of goons and acid-spewing dragons on an effective path of domination, searching for Hiccup with plans to destroy the very idea of Berk.
"The Hidden World" has its thrills (propped up by John Powell's rousing score), with a defined interest in swordfights and mid-air dragon battles, making the run time fly by. However, the focal point of the movie remains where it should: on Hiccup and Toothless. Finding themselves easing out of their codependent relationship, the pair discovers maturity and a path to peace, and DeBlois isn't about to allow fans of the series to leave without becoming a blubbering mess. He's earned the emotion, helping to guide the "How to Train Your Dragon" series from a magical discovery nine years ago to this gem -- the closing act on one of the best animated trilogies around. It's difficult to part with such lush, amusing, and electrifying fantasy storytelling, but the production is careful to exit on a pitch-perfect note of hope.