How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a Fitting End

Next to Kung Fu Panda, the How to Train Your Dragon franchise remains one of DreamWorks' best in recent years. I really enjoyed the first film, was underwhelmed with the sequel though it still had its bright spots; I have yet to see the television show it spawned (available on Netflix) nor read the books loosely based by Cressida Cowell. Now we reach the end as Hiccup and Toothless take one final flight in How To Train your Dragon: The Hidden World.

Hiccup leading his people.
Toothless leading his herd.

A year has passed since the events of the second movie, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is chieftain of his Viking homeland of Berk and made it a safe haven for dragons. While the viking villagers are prospering with their fire-breathing friends, the place is starting overcrowd itself and the constant threat of dragon hunters is looming closer in their direction. One such hunter is Grimmel the Grisly (F. Murray Abraham) a cold and calculating villain with Toothless as his next target. With the realization that they are no match for Grimmel, Hiccup puts all hope on finding the legendary Hidden World, a safe sanctuary said to be the birthplace of all dragons. To make matters more complicated, Toothless discovers he isn't the last of his kind with the sudden appearance of a Light Fury, a female to be exact.

I'm not the only one who thought of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon from Yu-Gi-Oh! right?

The Hidden World is Thor: Ragnarok, Rio, and Spirit: The Stallion of the Cimmarron rolled into one. The former applies with Hiccup trying to be a great leader like his father Stoik (Gerard Butler). With their home facing impending doom he makes a critical decision to have everyone evacuate the land of their ancestors; stating that Berk is a not a place but are its people. The Rio plotline comes with Toothless trying to woo the Light Fury with little to no success. We do want Toothless to succeed, as they are perfect for each other and can save their species since they are the last of their kind. As for similarities with Spirit, both share amazing animation, animals that don't talk, a villain who finds a way to tame any wild creature, and some PETA message about captivity that comes off more misinterpreted than meaningful.

Grimmel the Grisly

When it comes to the writing of this trilogy it has been its one weak spot. The first film managed to have enough pros to outweigh the cons only to get hazy with the sequel with its forgettable villain, and messy mythology. Its much better here though shades of it still linger. The visuals in terms of landscape and scope continue to excel; courtesy of Academy Award winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (Fargo, Skyfall, Blade Runner 2049) who served as a Visual Consultant. The Hidden World itself is a beautiful sight with its natural neon color that reminded me Ang Lee's Life of Pi. Unfortunately, the Hidden World is too well hidden that the movie spends very little time in said place, despite being in the title.

Astrid and Hiccup marveling at the Hidden world.

Another aspect that works is the bond between Hiccup and Toothless, their friendship has endured so many trails and tests that's been pushed to the brink but come through in the end. It makes it all sad when Hiccup realizes that he might have to say good-bye. Makes it all jarring when the TV trailers give away one too many spoilers that the Pokemon episode "Bye, Bye Butterfree" came to mind on how this would end.

Hiccup and Toothless ready for action. 

Maybe when I watch the TV series it will give me more insight in the side characters who were funny comic reliefs in the last two installments with Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), Snotlout (Jonah Hill),  Ruffnut (Kristen Wiig), and Tuffnut (Justin Rupple). Here, they start to overstay their welcome with their tiresome jokes especially a weird sub-plot on how Snotlout has a crush on Hiccup's mother Valka (Cate Blanchett). The best jokes come from Gobber (Craig Ferguson) who continues to fill in the role of father/mentor for Hiccup. The romance between Hiccup and Astrid (America Ferrera) is still sweet with her being one of my favorite characters in animation. One critic pointed out how the the film could have been better if she was the main character and Hiccup be the funny sidekick. A Kim Possible set-up in Medieval or Norse times with swords and dragons? That's not a bad idea.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is no Toy Story 3 but does it's job on bringing the series to a fitting close for fans who grew up with the first film back in 2010.

Final Verdict: B