Tropic Sprockets / How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

By Ian Brockway

Dean DeBlois (Lilo & Stitch ) directs the colorful and engaging “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.” The final film in a trilogy, this chapter manages to be an evocative and heartfelt coming-of-age story that moves along breezily.

Jay Baruchel reprises his role as Hiccup, a happy go lucky junior adventurer. Hiccup is up against the fearsome warlord Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham) a Dracula-like dictator who wants to cage and kill all dragons. Telling the Viking community that they are up against a “new kind” of enemy, he argues that they flee their Berk stronghold and go elsewhere temporarily.

Grimmel is on the prowl and he won’t be deterred.

Hiccup, riding on Toothless, the adorable sable dragon with flashing eyes, locates a spacious island that resembles a Sandals resort. But Grimmel appears seemingly by supernatural means. Hiccup is torn between becoming a leader of Vikings and letting his beloved friend and consort Toothless go free.

The animation is vivid and striking with visual references to “Avatar” as well as a theme regarding xenophobia and discriminatory hatred of those who are said to be different. The fluid visions are almost Orientalist in their beauty and the film features an ivory dragon that recalls both the art of Japanese anime and Maxfield Parrish.

The jokes are plentiful thanks to the casting of Kristen Wiig as Ruffnut, a hyperactive Viking girl and Jonah Hill as Hiccup’s friend Snotlout. America Ferrera is also here once again as the forthright Astrid, Hiccup’s fiancee.

Younger audiences will be giddily entertained while more mature eyes will appreciate some topical social commentary, pointing to inclusivity and the celebration of diversity, symbolized by the dragons.

This is a feel-good story of doing the right thing against an autocratic villain. It is rhythmic and sweeping with morals that are never self-righteous or overbearing. Last but not least, its sweet spirit is not cloying or sappy.

“The Hidden World” is a fitting conclusion to an effervescent trilogy with something for every dragon advocate.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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