Critique: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Film)

Hiccup and co are fighting with dragon trappers, including Eret. Hiccup decides to free these dragons, being controlled by a fierce person called Drago. Along the way, Hiccup meets someone he thought dead.

 

*****SPOILERS*****

 

Animation

 

The talent in the animation department deserves celebrating.

As the dragons fly, their wings vibrate in the wind. This shows such impressive attention to detail.

When Drago’s dragon stabs Valka’s dragon, the angles allow the audience to clearly see the dragon was stabbed without having to ever see the actual wound. The animators thought that through very clearly.

Animation colour tones of natural objects like grass, rocks, water and sky are more natural without a colourful pop. Being more realistic and less fun, it helps add to the serious tone of the film. Bright colours, like the paint on the dragons during the games, thus help to highlight the fun moments.

Individual grass blades animated individually. Like the beard hairs. Beard hairs also covered with varying amount of snow as they fly. Specific details were given attention.

Hiccup’s been animated, showing that he’s gone through puberty: his face and body are wider, more angled. Stoic and Astrid also look like they’ve aged. Hiccup’s original friend group, however, lack any signs of aging.

 

 

Problems

 

Oh dear.

They play a sport called ‘dragon racing’. But the goal is to put sheep in a basket. Yes, they’re moving in laps, but the position of the fliers seems has to have no value. Rather, this is in regards to the amount of netted sheep.

Stoic wants to retire as chief. Considering Stoic has full mobility and Hiccup is only twenty, this seems premature on every front. Also, the chiefs have all come from Stoic’s paternal line, so Hiccup, as Stoic’s only son, shouldn’t be surprised he’s been picked as the next chief. Plus, who better to lead the Vikings in their dragon-riding era than the Viking who made the Vikings ride dragons in the first place?

Valka holds a hand in front of Toothless’ face and Toothless makes happy rumbles, rolling onto his back. What? How can proximity cause this?

Drago’s fleet attacks Valka’s ice nest. But the last time we saw Drago, he and his army were destined to Berc. Why say they’re going one place when they actually go to another? So coming to the ice nest makes no sense. If he changed his mind, it would have taken three seconds to show it: that’s a little additional time to prevent unnecessary senselessness.

Hiccup and Astrid’s companions, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, Snotlout and Fishlegs, have a far reduced role in this film. They’ve become part of the background rather than having personalities.

 

 

Funny

 

Just like the characters have aged, so has the feel of the film. Yet it hasn’t lost the humour the first film was so efficient at.

Hiccup and Toothless playfighting is hilarious. It’s exactly like a dad dog playing with his pups. Another doglike activity was when Eret threw the sword into the see and Astrid’s dragon Stormfly kept on bringing it back, playing catch.

Tooth hangs Hiccup over cliff to force him to apologise.

Hiccup and Astrid fly to Eret’s ship of dragon trappers. Hiccup says, “We give up.” Usually people say that when they’ve unwillingly been caught, not when the willingly deliver themselves.

Tuffnut likes Eret so, when Eret shoots net, she says, “Take me.” So funny.

Stormfly drops Eret to which Astrid says, “Good girl.” Usually that would be the opposite response! When Stormfly catches Eret and he says he’ll show them to Drago, Astrid says, “Works every time.” Which means she’s done it before! Hilarious.

There were fewer repeated gags. This not only made the film feel more serious but also made the jokes that were repeated funnier than they otherwise would’ve been.

 

 

Clever

 

There were many intelligent things to note in this film.

Hiccup is gliding. Toothless lets off a blast of fire to heat the air, making the air and thus Hiccup rise up.

Gobber has a wheel at his forge. Each shelf has different attachments for his handless arm.

Hiccup’s mum Valka draws on the ice, then Toothless copies this with an icicle. It’s a cool adaptation from Toothless copying Hiccup drawing from the first film.

Valka’s dragon hangs from the ceiling and has hook-like bat claws. Considering dragon wings are basically bat wings, having this added association is a nice detail.

Dragons in Viking myths were much more serpentine than the dragons in this film. However, there’s no reason why these drake-dragons hadn’t moved north in Hiccup’s universe.

Valka’s dragon snatches Hiccup from Toothless’ back. Surely she of all people knows the strength of the huma-dragon bond, so why would she cause separation? However, it’s easier to snatch Hiccup up than have dragons try to herd the nightfury Toothless.

Drago, the dragon master, just screamed and whirled spear around head and that made the dragons bow their heads. But Berc’s Vikings did that sort of things during their dragon fights, but it didn’t have same affect. Maybe it’s because the dragon’s fire didn’t hurt Drago, so if their most potent weapon is useless then there’s no point resisting?

 

 

 

This was a pretty good sequel. The feel was aged to fit the older characters and more serious tone without losing the glee that made the first film so full of life. There was beauty and humour with a fair dallop of intelligence.