How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019 Film) Review

After almost a decade, the "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise comes to a close with "The Hidden World." Is it a satisfying send-off to the franchise as well as a great first step for Universal Pictures?

"The Hidden World" takes place a year after the second film and finds Hiccup doing his best to lead Berk after becoming village chief. In the process, he and his dragon friend, Toothless, find another female Night Fury, later dubbed a Light Furry. It's not long after this discovery that all of Berk's dragon residents become the target of a fearsome dragon trapper named Grimmel. Grimmel seeks to destroy all dragons, including the ones that dwell in a fabled hidden world. Naturally, that goal doesn't fly with Hiccup or any of Berk, so they work to defend dragons at all cost.

Jay Baruchel returns to lead the picture as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. American Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Kristen Wig are back voicing Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and Ruffnut. T.J. Miller was replaced by Justin Rupple in the role of Tuffnut. Cate Blanchett and Craig Ferguson come back to voice Valka and Gobber while Gerrard Butler briefly provides the voice for Hiccup's father, Stoick. Grimmel is voiced by F. Murray Abraham.

Dean DeBlois, who co-directed the first film with Chris Sanders and solely directed the second film, returns to director's chair to finish off his trilogy. DeBlois also serves as the screenwriter for the film. Bonnie Arnold and Brad Lewis produced the film. "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" was distributed by Universal Pictures, their first DreamWorks Animation film since their purchase of the animation company. (Interestingly enough, each entry in this franchise has been distributed by a different studio. The first was by Paramount Pictures and the second was by 20th Century Fox.)

Introduction

Here it is! The long-anticipated sequel almost three years after it was first expected. Okay, I know that I complained about the long wait between films in my last review, but I bring it up again because with "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World," the wait has felt significantly longer. I guess you can chalk that up to DreamWorks moving the film's release date from one to another. It was originally set for release in June 2016, then in June 2017, then June 2018, then May 2018, and then March 2019, until moving one week up to the end of February. The many changes in the release schedule is slightly understandable. You do want to make sure the director has time to perfect his film and again, DreamWorks did switch distributors, which undoubtedly, if not partly, caused the many delays. In that way, the long wait is fine.

What's not fine is that many overseas markets, starting with Australia, have already been playing this movie since the beginning of the year. I get the need to build up hype from overseas, DreamWorks, but two weeks is long enough. Waiting almost two months to release it to the biggest box office marketplace that is the United States is ridiculous. Granted, keeping the US fans of the franchise figuratively chomping at the bit for its debut does ensure the biggest possible opening weekend gross for your film, but still.

Oh, who am I kidding? Us fans of this franchise are too concerned with the fact that "The Hidden World" is the end of this trilogy to be annoyed. Indeed, the first two "How to Train Your Dragon" films are unquestionably DreamWorks Animation's finest feats of filmmaking. I love everything about them and that's only made me excited to see how the studio plans to wrap it all up with "The Hidden World," the first DreamWorks film by Universal Pictures and the only film in the trilogy to get a subtitle.Is it the end all fans wish for?

Overall Thoughts

Similar to the two previous films, "The Hidden World" runs at its own relaxed pace. It doesn’t jump from one action sequence to another. The pacing is slow, allowing you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the story, themes, and characters.

Jay Baruchel turns in one last great voiceover performance as Hiccup. He has been an essential part of this franchise from the start and "The Hidden World" continues to show all of the traits that makes Hiccup such a relatable and inspiring protagonist. The character's level of intelligence and preference to solve conflicts peacefully make for a great way to build a conflict. In addition to being a great role-model, Hiccup goes through many hardships that are relatable and moving. The way he and his friends handle the plot's many challenges showcase a how far these characters have grown over the course of this trilogy. Well, most of them.

Outside of American Ferrera's Astrid, the rest of Hiccup's friends are up to their same old shenanigans. In some ways, it's appealing. In the case of characters like Jonah Hill's Snotlout, the film definitely diminishes the character. Luckily, there wasn't much to diminish to begin with, so it makes Snotlout's minor subplot, which consists of him seeking attention from Hiccup's mother, a little less scathing. The other returning actors do good voicework, if minor. It's not like any of them had much of a role to begin with, so the lack of focus on them doesn't hurt the film at all. Since I was so involved with the main characters, I hardly cared about the lack of screen time for the characters that were slightly less consequential to the story.

Toothless has more personal growth in this film compared to the last two. Though his dynamic with Hiccup is always a treat, his courtship of the Light Fury consist of some of the film’s best moments. Despite the scenes between Toothless and the new fury being void of dialogue, the filmmakers are still able to nail all the emotions home to the point where you know what the two dragons are thinking just by looking at them. The animation for the two dragons is top-notch. Even when they're the two dragons are the only characters on the screen, I'm glued to it. I cannot look away because the designs are so impressive. It's during those scenes where Toothless, of course, tries everything he can to woo the female fury. This results in a series of attempts that are not only funny, but incredibly endearing.

Fortunately, or rather unfortunately for our characters, the film isn’t all fun and games. For as joyful as it gets, "The Hidden World" also delivers on the danger as our heroes are face immense opposition. This opposition comes in the form of Grimmel, voiced by F. Murray Abraham. While he’s cunning and ruthless in his pessimistic point of view, the fun of Grimmel is that he’s not above partaking in the humor. The filmmakers don’t take him too seriously, so the character is a cause for many clever and comical jokes. Still, the character is an imposing force and Abraham successfully delivers the menace.

As many filmmakers push the frontier of animated filmmaking, it’s wonderful to see DreamWorks up their game. The character designs aren’t significantly different from the last two films, but everything has an added level of detail to them. When we first lay eyes on Berk in the film, it’s a stunning mash-up of vibrant colors. The landscapes are picture-perfect and the flying sequences are beyond immersive. These are qualities that each film has excelled at since the beginning, but it’s particularly exciting to see the technology improve with each film. Without giving away too much, the titular Hidden World will drop the jaws of every animation fan. It’s that perfect.

One of my favorite composers is John Powell and a reason why is because of the work he's done in the "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise. Yes, no matter how many people overlook his work, these films stand as shining examples of what happens when a composer is truly in tune with his craft. No limits, no outside pressure to follow a certain style, just a composer crafting whatever he wills with every beat of his music.

Like the rest of the film, I have nothing but the highest praise for John Powell's score for "The Hidden World." It's impeccably constructed, elevates every scene in the movie, and helps every emotion in the film resonate to its absolute best. At one point, the score keeps you in a peaceful mood. At another, it communicates a sense of danger and sadness that makes you feel the appropriate emotions. It's worth noting that Jónsi's small contributions to the score do have an impact on the overall piece. Their end credits song, "Together From Afar," really hits home the finality of the ending and makes you weep as you contemplate what you just finished watching.

Grade: A+

Wrapping up the story in an emotional, exquisite, and thoroughly rewarding package, "The Hidden World" ensures that the "How to Train Your Dragon" lives on as the best animated film trilogy ever.

It’s fair to point out that your enjoyment of this film depends on your affiliation with the rest of the franchise in the past. If you have not yet seen or have lightly dabbled in the tales of Hiccup and his dragon pal, Toothless, you might leave "The Hidden World" thinking that it’s merely a good movie. However, if you, like me, have been following this film series since its start back in 2010, you’re reaction may be similar to mine. That reaction being, “What a perfect ending!”

As if I needed to encourage you to see this in theaters, I will mention that you do not need to do so in 3D. I did and as my second viewing of the film, the 3D didn't add much to it I hadn't already gotten watching the film in 2D the first time. Unless you're attending a theater that does great 3D, it's otherwise unnecessary. I believe it's going to some IMAX theaters this weekend and if that's the case, I'd try seeing the film in that format.

Conclusion

That has been my review of "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World." I look forward to hearing any thoughts you have regarding the film and/or my review. Do you plan to see it? Perhaps, you've already have. Regardless, share your thoughts in the comments below. Feel free to recommend a film for a future review as well. Thanks for reading, I'm Dallin, the Film Fanatic, and I'll be back with another editorial.