First Take: How To Train Your Dragon 3- they skipped the whole university process?

SYNOPSIS: When Hiccup discovers Toothless isn’t the only Night Fury, he must seek “The Hidden World”, a secret Dragon Utopia before a hired tyrant named Grimmel finds it first.

Yes, we’re late to the game with this one- that’s what happens when the task of writing an 8000 word dissertation on independent cinemas takes over. But DreamWorks can easily make a good film, and the latest, and potentially final entry to the Dragons saga is no exception.

Returning to finish the trilogy he began in 2008, Dean DeBlois is back to write and direct a film which still takes influences from Cressida Cowell’s books, but spins off into its own plot, with a lot of loose ends being tied up from the last 2 films. It’s a 1 hour 44 minute release, and surprisingly, the first act was pretty slow, but once it hits its stride, the film just knocks it out of the park- and knowing the detail of the animation here, this film visually looks at home on the big screen, and with another John Powell score providing the soundtrack, this film technically ticks all the boxes.

As for the cast, it’s hard not to find faults at all. Series veterans Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson and Kristen Wiig return to voice their characters, and joining them for the ride this time round is F. Murray Abraham (best known as one of Wes Anderson’s go-to actors)- who plays a pretty good villain even though the film’s plot felt a little too clichéd, and a little paint by numbers at times. That isn’t to say that the film isn’t enjoyable, far from it, but families will have an absolute field day with this one for obvious reasons.

THE VERDICT

Aside from the pacing issues in the first half of the film, The Hidden World is an incredible way for the Dragons series to bow out, packing one hell of an emotional punch at the ending; and knowing the new managerial overlords at DreamWorks, this could be the swansong for their last truly independent franchise.

RATING: 4/5