How to Train Your Dragon 2, the sequel to the highly successful 2010 film, continues the adventures of the peaceful Viking Hiccup and his faithful dragon Toothless. Filled with more action and discovery than its predecessor, How to Train Your Dragon 2 is just as fun for adults to watch as it is for kids. John Powell’s score is brilliant, infusing a sense of wonder and discovery into every moment. Jónsi’s atmospheric “Where No One Goes” bookends the film nicely, evoking the feeling of flying freely through the clouds. The vocal talent of the cast did not disappoint; franchise newcomer Cate Blanchett’s performance was particularly impressive.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is not your average animated film. Rather than re-hashing the story from the first film, How to Train Your Dragon 2 builds upon already established themes and dives deeper into an exploration of friendship, loyalty, responsibility, leadership, destiny, peace, and the effects of violence.
I was pleasantly surprised at the raw honesty with which writer/director Dean DeBlois genuinely crafted this story. That genuine emotion shone through in moments like the heartwarmingly playful banter between Hiccup and Toothless, the emotionally charged reunion with Hiccup’s long-lost mother, and a heart-wrenching death and subsequent funeral. DeBlois masterfully uses these moments to endear the characters to the audience.
The opening of the film shows the outcome of Hiccup’s years of peacemaking. The Isle of Berk has become a microcosm of a world at peace. Their society is thriving now that Vikings and dragons (and even sheep!) are no longer enemies but have learned to trust one another. However, their loyalty is severely tested by a new threat. This threat becomes the catalyst by which the maturing Hiccup comes into his own and discovers who he was truly meant to be – a loyal leader.
I was impressed that DeBlois chose not to ignore the effects of violence in this film. We are reminded through several intentional shots that the wounds inflicted on the characters in the first film are still present. This film sets forth the idea that peace is not always possible without some form of violence.
Sometimes in life, ideals clash in such a way that resolution by nonviolent means alone doesn’t seem possible. I am reminded of the words of Alfred in The Dark Knight, referring to The Joker: “Some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” The main antagonist in How to Train Your Dragon 2, Drago Bludvist, is one such person. He is someone who cannot be convinced to make peace by any amount of reasoning.
Realizing that peace is not the same as tolerance, Hiccup decides to stand up to Drago in order to protect those he cares about. His actions remind us that in life we have to be willing to stand firm and fight for peaceful ideals.
That dichotomy – between peace and fighting to make peace – can be quite difficult for us to navigate. If we are committed to peace, how should we deal with someone like Drago Bludvist (or The Joker)? I believe the answer is situational, but that every situation should be approached with love, while looking at individuals through God’s eyes rather than solely through our own. The conflict in How To Train Your Dragon 2 is solved by upholding the ideals of peace, loyalty, and leadership. The result is a must-see film for all ages.
