The How to Train Your Dragon series soars in its final flight to becoming one of the greatest trilogies to ever grace the screen. Whether you are a viking or a dragon, it never loses its focus on being tolerant and accepting of what you fear but do not know. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World marks a charged conclusion of a visually amazing, richly told fantasy where endless love and agonizing loss are both worthwhile.
The story picks up a year after the second movie with Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) being the chief and Toothless being the alpha. Along with his girlfriend Astrid (America Ferrera) and mother Valka (Cate Blanchett), they have established a world that no one thought could ever exist. However, Berk is overpopulated with dragons and the home they have always had looks a lot different amidst the chaos. The more dragons Hiccup brings back, the more of a target they become and the more danger they’re in. Going off on a myth of a hidden world that his father Stoick (Gerard Butler) only spoke of but never saw, Hiccup and Toothless must find it as this could be their only way to live in peace.
But before they can all fly off into the sunset, a Light Fury comes swooping in, and Toothless is beguiled by her existence and has fallen madly in love. They are assuredly meant to be together since they are the last of their kind. The surprisingly sudden appearance of the Light Fury is no coincidence as Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham) seeks to be rid of the Night Furies once and for all by using her to lure Toothless to his demise. This vile villain has wiped them all out except one, and his love of the chase makes him someone Hiccup has never faced before. Grimmel knows their weakness and relishes in it by always being one step ahead.
All three How to Train Your Dragon movies have been a huge part of writer/director Dean DeBlois‘ life. He had some help on the first one before totally taking the reigns on its two sequels, and what an incredible job he’s done with making each installment an emotional, funny, and entertaining journey unlike anything we have seen before. With Hidden World, he delivers a fantastic adventure about bravery, loyalty, freedom, and believing in oneself.
It’s an astounding animation, and the friendship between Toothless and Hiccup is what makes it most memorable. Doing what’s best for anyone you care about is sometimes the most difficult thing to do. These two are no exception. Hidden World spreads its mighty wings one last time for an unforgettable, dazzling farewell that goes out on a distinguished high note.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
Check out the SoBros Shop. Subscribe to our Patreon. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube.
