How to Train Your Dragon 2: Movie Review

You will want a pet dragon after watching this new Dreamworks animated adventure about Hiccup and his adorable dragon, Toothless. It's the camaraderie and friendship between the two that engage as you take flight with them to higher heights on a more expansive journey in this sequel full of moments teaching sacrifice, forgiveness and courage.

Decidedly more intense, How to Train Your Dragon 2 is for the children who were old enough to watch the original and are now four years older. This sequel jumps five years and covers a more mature storyline and contains elements that may be too much for younger children (more details listed below).

THE MOVIE IN A MINUTE

Five years have passed since the dragons and the Vikings of Berk first united. Peace now reigns over the island village allowing Hiccup to spend his days mapping uncharted lands with his pal dragon, Toothless. But their discovery of a new ice cave brings them face to face with danger again, in the form of dragon trappers, a masked Dragon Rider, and the most feared name in all the lands, Drago Bludvist. To preserve the harmony between man and beast, Hiccup and Toothless take to the skies to counteract Drago's moves to raise an unbeatable army.

THE GOOD AND BAD IN HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

Filled with high-flying action and funny moments (especially ones involving Toothless in the background), How to Train Your Dragon 2 offers moviegoers a (for the most part) family-friendly popcorn movie experience. Its focus on the father-son relationship between Hiccup and his dad, Chief Stoick, is touching and timely for this weekend.

Parents of small children should use caution. How to Train Your Dragon 2 is rated PG for adventure action and some mild rude humor. This includes some weirdly suggestive moments between one of warrior girls and a new character, a Viking funeral (where the body is burned) and some pretty intense and scary new dragons. How to Train Your Dragon 2 also presents an environment conscience story, with Viking mythology and Valhalla (their 'paradise') mentioned.

IN THE END

This installment in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise is quite entertaining, with great adventure, heartwarming scenes and comedy intact. However, its intensity may be too much for little kids.