Review: How To Train Your Dragon 2

Yesterday I took two youngsters to see the sequel to Dreamwork’s How To Train Your Dragon, a film that treads a familiar path with its use of a gawky, awkward teen who is a misunderstood outcast in his society until he gains or discovers something wonderful that makes him even more of a misunderstood outcast until said discovery ends up saving everyone’s lives and proving the error of society's ways.

And yet the original film rose above its internal clichés to be an incredibly moving tale of A Boy and His X; something that can be attributed to its blend of beautiful animation, John Powell's stunning score (never underestimate how much music can elevate a story), and its portrayal of Toothless the dragon, a creature that has the mannerisms of a cat, the temperament of a dog, the utility of a horse, and the bonus gift of flight.

Move over Hedwig and Nemo, dragons are now in demand as the world's most desirable exotic pet.

Plus, there’s not a lot that can go wrong with the premise of Vikings versus Dragons. It’s so simple yet so ingenious that it’s a wonder someone didn’t come up with it sooner.

How To Train Your Dragon 2 understands some basic truths about sequels: they have to enlarge their horizons, delve deeper into characterization and expand on the world-building – but at the same time it’s important not to go too overboard. For if there was a weakness to this film, it was that it simply tries to pack too much into its limited run-time.

Spoilers below...