Dragon droppings.

Rating: 2/10 (24 February 2016)

Gone is the heart and soul the first film had. We now have a story that is poorly contrived.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 follows the adventures of Hiccup. We now learn that dragons and humans live together in harmony. They compete in some sort of tournament every year which involves racing and other events.
This movie never gains momentum at all.
Long story short, While out venturing with his girlfriend, they end up in uncharted territory with a bunch of bad guys who are led by a villain named Drago. Drago wants to use dragons to his advantage to start war with the others.
So basically the theme of change is rehashed in this sequel. Hiccup believes that he can speak with the leader of this group and change his evil ways. His father warns him that Drago can not be reasoned with. Hiccup defies this and goes out to try and stop war from ensuing.
Along the way he encounters someone. We come to find out that this is his mother. She has been in hiding for 20 years. We find out later why this is, but the story just seems too silly a reason for her to leave her family. Even the reunion with the husband seems awkward. I would have wanted to know why she left not just run up and kiss her.
One of the characters dies, I won't say who and I was already warned before I saw it. No it's not Toothless.
Why did DreamWorks feel it was necessary to try and use the change theme again? Certainly some people can change, and others can't be persuaded. But change is not something that comes quickly, it is something that takes time.
The saving grace of the movie is the animation and that's pretty much it. Skip this dud and watch the original.