Story
How to Train your Dragon 2 is a sequel to the first How to Train your Dragon movie and is set five years later.
It opens with the Viking inhabitants of the Island of Berk engaged in their favourite contact sport – dragon rugby. The story’s lead character Hiccup (voice of Jay Baruchel), who has now come of age, is betrothed to his childhood sweetheart, Astrid (voice of America Ferrera). Hiccup is also being groomed by his father, Stoick (voice of Gerard Butler), to become the Island of Berk’s next chieftain.
One day Hiccup and Astrid are out flying on their dragons and exploring new lands. They stumble upon the remains of a fortress encased in ice, the result of an attack by an unknown dragon rider. Hiccup and Astrid soon encounter the owner of the destroyed fortress, a dragon trapper named Eret (voice of Kit Harington). Unfortunately, Eret mistakenly believes that Hiccup is responsible for the destruction of his fortress and captures Hiccup, Astrid and their dragons.
During their captivity Hiccup and Astrid learn that a mad warlord named Drago Bludvist (voice of Djiman Hounsou) has enslaved an army of dragons. He intends to use the army to conquer the people and dragons of Berk. Hiccup and Astrid manage to escape and fly back to Berk to inform the Island inhabitants of the impending danger.
Hiccup believes he can reason with Drago and flies off to track down Drago and his dragon army. But before he can reach Drago, Hiccup is confronted by the dragon rider responsible for the attack on Eret’s fortress. The rider turns out to be Hiccup’s long-lost mother, Valka (Cate Blanchett). For the past 20 years Valka has devoted her life to rescuing dragons from Drago’s clutches. With Valka’s aid Hiccup must make a stand against Drago to protect both the inhabitants and dragons of Berk from enslavement.
Themes
Dragons; Vikings; warfare; death of a family member
Violence
How to Train Your Dragon 2 contains more violence than the first movie. It is also darker in its themes. But it doesn’t show any blood and gore. Here are some examples of violence in this movie:
Sexual references
How to Train Your Dragon 2 has a few sexual innuendoes. For example:
- A young woman who is infatuated with Eret ogles his body in several scenes and makes suggestive comments. Throughout the movie, two other young men compete for her attention. One of the men says, ‘But baby I grew facial hair for you’.
- After overhearing an argument between a married couple, a man says, ‘That’s why I never married. That and one other reason’.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
How to Train Your Dragon 2 shows some use of substances. For example:
- One of the movie’s main characters uses a device that lets off green smoke, which makes its victims unconscious.
- Dragon trappers shoot dragons with darts from blowpipes. These darts make the dragons unconscious.
Nudity and sexual activity
How to Train Your Dragon 2 shows some nudity and sexual activity. For example:
- After being reunited with his long-lost wife, a Viking man says, ‘You’re as beautiful as the day I last saw you’. He sings to his wife and touches her face. They hold hands, dance and kiss.
- Hiccup and Astrid kiss and hug in a couple of scenes.
Product placement
None of concern
Coarse language
How to Train Your Dragon 2 has some name-calling and a few unfinished exclamations.
Ideas to discuss with your children
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is an animated fantasy adventure targeted at older and adolescent children, but adults will probably like it too.
There is more violence than in the first How to Train Your Dragon. Children under seven years are likely to find some of the scenes and characters too disturbing, so it isn’t recommended for this age group. We recommend parental guidance for children aged 7-10 years.
These are the main messages from this movie:
- A leader’s responsibility is to protect both people and animals under his or her care.
- Good individuals, including dragons, can do bad things when influenced or forced by bad people.
Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include the following:
- Diplomacy: Hiccup always looks for peaceful ways to solve conflict.
- Trust: the movie emphasises trust between humans and animals.
- Gender equality: the movie presents women and men as equally courageous.