Go Hiccup Go!

Rating: 8/10 (9 July 2014)

The first How to Train a Dragon movie absolutely blew me away. It is still one of my top four animated films (Incredibles, Kung Fu Panda and Spirited Away are the others.)It was the first film that managed to make 3D work so well that it took my breath away. I watched it at the cinema with my four year old daughter and we both spent most of the film on the edge of our seats. I am happy to report that the sequel is just as bright, colourful, funny and exciting as the first. But, most importantly, just like the first film, it doesn't seem to know that it is a cartoon. The voice work and the animation combine to give us a real acting experience from a fantastic cast, and it transitions neatly between teenage angst and non- stop action. If I have any criticisms they are all about the story; the film does suffer a little from the sequel-disease of unnecessary happenings in desperate bid to ensure old ground is not tread. This film doesn't benefit from the sheer unexpected charisma of the first film but it does tick all the boxes, and is very enjoyable for it.