The How to Train Your Dragon franchise goes out on a wonderful high with The Hidden World
Taking themes familiar to most animated trilogies (growing up, moving on, letting go) this is an unexpectedly emotional yet most welcome hour and a half
KIT Harington? Dragons? Growing up to be king? Something that looks suspiciously like Wildfire?!
It’s Game of Thrones without the breasts or incest!
This film has no business being as good as it is.
On their third outing, Hiccup, Toothless and the gang are back for one last(?) adventure.
As the title suggests, there is more undiscovered earth out there - but whilst they work out how to get there, there are lots of other things to contend with.
Puberty (EVERYONE seems randy!) and the scary Night Fury hunter Grimmel the Grizzly are just a couple.
Taking themes familiar to most animated trilogies (growing up, moving on, letting go) this is an unexpectedly emotional yet most welcome hour and a half.
Whilst there’s nothing wildly original about anything happening, the animation is so splendid, so vividly soaring, it gives most others a lesson in creativity and movement (the only thing holding it’s own - but similar in ambition would be ‘Into The Spider-Verse’).
It has firmed my scepticism about celebrity voices in animated films.
MOST READ IN FILM
I haven’t (with the possible exception of Woody in Toy Story) singled anyone out - and I still find it an increasing distraction from the main event.
“Is that..?” is a game I don’t want to be playing while watching a film. It adds nothing.
But I’ve always loved this franchise - it’s been a real family favourite.
If this is the last i’ll be sad - but also pleased that it’s going out on such a wonderful high.