Film Review - How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

How to end a project is a difficult and trying act to accomplish. There has been many a film or Television series that has left their loyal audience that hung in there since the beginning feeling less than at the choice of ending. Writer-director Dean DeBlois'  nine year dragon journey had its ups and downs with whispers that there might not be a third due to the significant drop off in box office from the first to the second. However, the third did get greenlit and DeBlois lands the trilogy in the best possible way.

Hiccup (Jay Baruchel Voice) has turned his home of Birk into a Dragon sanctuary. He and his crew  raid poachers rescuing  captured dragons bringing them back to Birk where they can roam free. The pirates attacked at the films open want their merchandise back bringing in notorious dragon killer Grimmel (F. Murray Abrihim -voice) to track down the Birkians. Gimmel has dragons of his own, drugged to do his bidding and a plan to turn Hiccup's alpha Toothless against his friends.

Deblois delivers a straight forward that is easy to follow while working on parallel levels. There is Hiccup and Astrid (America Ferrera-voice) their relationship moving into adult hood and talk of the new chief taking a bride. Toothless encounters a Light Fury, bait from Grimmel, but a potential partner for the Alpha. The story also touches on themes of self reliance and an unfounded like for those that are not like you.

In the end, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ends the trilogy spanning nine years in the best possibly way. The Birkian flock is allowed to self determine making a natural choice. There are valuable lessons here for both children and adults alike. The villain of the piece is dealt with smartly with a coda scene that will have the youngsters oohing and ahhing just before the credits scroll.

*** Out of 4.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | Dean DeBlois | U.S.A. | 2019 | 104 Minutes.

Tags: Trilogy, Fantasy, Pirates, Dragons, Homeland, Ruler, Marrige, Set Free.