How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

Directed by Dean DeBlois. Starring Jay Baruchel, America Ferrara, Craig Ferguson, F. Murray Abraham, Jonah Hill, Justin Rupple, Kristen Wiig, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harrington, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Gerard Butler. [PG]

When a dangerous dragon hunter (Abraham) rears his head, young Viking chieftain Hiccup (Baruchel) decides to move his people—and the large number of dragons they watch over—away from their homeland toward a mythic place at the edge of the world where they can establish a new home. Third chapter in the How to Train Your Dragon series doesn’t offer much that’s new (its central themes and messages are old hat by now), and carries the same major issue as the last two episodes: lack of a defined or compelling antagonist. Although lighter and jokier in tone than expected, when it comes to the chief selling point (the winged beasties), only Hiccup’s best bud, the Night Fury called Toothless, and his potential mate, a white version referred to as a “Light Fury,” are given much attention away from the swarms. Adequate entertainment, but let’s hope this lays the franchise to rest; it does end with a closure-fulfilling epilogue, but Hollywood isn’t known for letting sleeping dogs (or dragons) lie when cash is in the offering…just ask the Toy Story series.

68/100