How to Train Your Dragon Hidden World movie review

How to Train Your Dragons Hidden World opened in the US on February 22, 2019 to rave reviews. I loved the other films in the trilogy and was eager to see this one. Unfortunately, I was unable to see it in theaters. The Blu-ray and DVD were released on May 21 and I was determined to buy it. Hidden World is the last film in this trilogy, and we must say goodbye to this beautiful world and these outlandish but lovable characters. Always visually stunning with great characters, great moments and send off worthy of this wonderful series.

The film opens one year after the events of How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), Hiccup (played by Jay Baruchel) and his friends continue to rescue captured dragons. He brings them back to Berk where he has created a dragon-human utopia. Unfortunately, his place has resulted in an overpopulation of dragons. The villagers urge Hiccup to marry Astrid (played by America Ferrera) and take a larger role as chief. Unwilling to take that next step, Hiccup is determined to keep the dragons with them. He wants to find the Hidden World, a place his late father told him about as a child. Meanwhile, a white female Fury (dubbed Light Fury by Astrid) is discovered by Toothless. Unknown to Hiccup, the Light Fury is being used as bait by the infamous dragon hunter, Grimmel (played by F. Murray Abraham) in order to capture Toothless. As Hiccup searches for the Hidden World, he must decide whether to free Toothless and the other dragons or spend a lifetime fighting those who want to hurt them.

I loved this film. First, I love the characters. They have grown with each film; however still struggle with their insecurities/weaknesses. Hiccup is a great example. The boy would couldn’t or wouldn’t kill a dragon has grown in a man who hasn’t quite figured out his role as chief. He’s reluctant to marry Astrid, not because he doesn’t want to because he fears his dragon riding days are over. With the help of Astrid (who is my favorite character), he realizes that its time to say goodbye. Second, I like that the movie features a moral or lesson that we don’t have to be alone to solve our problems. We find strength, encouragement and solutions as we lean on others for support, advice and help. That we are better together as a partnership or a team than we are alone. Valka, Hiccup’s mother (played by Cate Blanchett) tells Astrid, “He thinks he has to lead alone.” Being a great leader means having a great team around him or her. Third, I love the theme that in life, sometimes we must lose who or what we love. In a flashback scene, Stoick (played by Gerard Butler) gives his son this lesson. “With love comes loss, son. It’s part of the deal. Sometimes it hurts, but in the end, its all worth it. There’s no greater gift than love.”

There were a few things I didn’t like. First, I was told and expecting a huge emotional response with the goodbyes in the film. While it was bittersweet to see Hiccup and Toothless say goodbye, it was not the emotional impact I was expecting. Maybe because I knew it was coming? Maybe because it wasn’t the goodbye, I thought it would be to warrant an emotional response? I’ve read reviews where people said they left the theater in tears and I saw nothing that was as a tearjerker. It was definitely not the emotional impact that Disney’s Coco (2017) had. Second, the villain Grimmel. While F. Murray Abraham played a great villain, the villain fell short for me. He reminds me of Drago, the villain from the second film. While Drago wanted to build a dragon army, Grimmel wants to rid the world of dragons as he sees them as an inferior species. Also, his role in the story was over too quickly. He shows up, they battle, and its over. Third, the flirtatious competition between Snotlout (played by Jonah Hill) and Eret (played by Kit Harrington) for Valka’s attention. It’s creepy and goes on too long and even gets creepier when Valka returns the flirts at the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this film and it is a fitting goodbye to these characters and the lovable dragons. The characters were great with Hiccup struggling to find himself as chief. Astrid as his confidante and partner as he learns to lead his people. The lesson of leadership and how great leaders don’t lead alone. And the hard lesson that sometimes we must say goodbye to those we love. I highly recommend How to Train Your Dragon Hidden World as well as the first two films, if you haven’t seen them. The trilogy is great for the entire family.