How to Train Your Dragon 2 parents guide

How to Train Your Dragon 2 Parent Guide

It's not often that a sequel lives up to the original film but "How to Train Your Dragon 2" is one that does.

Overall A-

Hiccup (voice of Jay Baruchel) and his dragon Toothless find themselves on another adventure when a new threat challenges the survival of both man and beast.

Release date June 13, 2014

Violence C+
Sexual Content B+
Profanity B+
Substance Use B+

Why is How to Train Your Dragon 2 rated PG? The MPAA rated How to Train Your Dragon 2 PG for adventure action and some mild rude humor.

Run Time: 105 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

It’s not often that a sequel lives up to the original film but How to Train Your Dragon 2 is one that does. And banking on the success of this movie, Dreamworks has already announced a release date in 2016 for How to Train Your Dragon 3.

Gerard Butler voices Stoick, the chief of a Viking village on the remote and rocky island of Berk. Big, burly and blustering, he rules with a heavy but compassionate hand. In the past, his villagers were plagued by dragons that swooped down and made a quick lunch of the inhabitants’ sheep. Luckily Stoick’s son Hiccup (voice by Jay Baruchel) put an end to the trouble when he learned how to train the dragons to work with the people instead of against them. Since then life has been pretty harmonious for the seafaring pirates.

Now with the dragon situation remedied, Stoick is anxious for his son to assume leadership of the town. Yet the scrawny and sensitive Hiccup worries he will never live up to his father’s expectations. As well, he is preoccupied with mapping out the uncharted lands around their island.

One day, after crash-landing on a previously unexplored landmass, Hiccup and his dragon Toothless discover a secret world populated by hundreds of dragons. Even more unexpected is the woman who has made it her mission to protect the beasts from Drago, an evil dragon hunter (voice of Djimon Hounsou). He intends to enslave the flying creatures. However Valka (voice of Cate Blanchett) also has a secret she’s been keeping from Hiccup.

The revelation, the ensuing battle with the dragon hunters and Hiccup’s feelings of inadequacy make this story better suited for a slightly older audience. Hiccup has grown up since his first adventure ended five years ago and the subject matter in this script reflects that. Instead of thinking girls are yucky, Hiccup and Astrid (America Ferrera) share a kiss or two. And a couple of different boys have gone soft in the head for Ruffnut (voice of Kristen Wiig)—though it is hard to know what they see in her.

As well, battle scene between gigantic dragons (that look like close cousins of Godzilla) might be a little scary for very young viewers. Nevertheless, this film is packed with plenty of other slapstick comedy and sight gags to keep most kids entertained. And for adults, the animation is incredible, especially when Hiccup and Toothless skim along the surface of the ocean kicking up a spray as they hit the waves.

Still the visuals are only part of this film’s appeal. While it may seem obvious, every child eventually has to find his or her way in the world independent of parental expectations. And that is a dilemma for Hiccup who is anything but a typical Viking. Luckily for him, there is more than one way to lead a village.

Directed by Dean DeBlois. Starring Jay Baruchel, Kristen Wiig, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill. Running time: 105 minutes. Theatrical release June 13, 2014. Updated

How to Train Your Dragon 2
Rating & Content Info

Why is How to Train Your Dragon 2 rated PG? How to Train Your Dragon 2 is rated PG by the MPAA for adventure action and some mild rude humor.

Violence: Sheep are used as game pieces in a competitive event. Characters engage in rough and tumble activities with some pushing, punching and other none graphic violence. Men are shown with swords and other weapons. A man reveals the scar of a brand burned on his chest. Animals and humans are captured and beaten. Explosions cause a house to start on fire threatening the people and animals inside. A dragon nearly drowns after being forced out of the air. Some scary characters are shown. Characters are threatened and face perilous situations. Dragons are shot with darts. Characters fight with weapons. Two large dragons fight one another. A man is killed during battle. Other deaths are briefly shown. Some brief depictions of blood are shown.

Sexual Content: Couples kiss on several occasions. A girl makes some suggestive comments and ogles a man before trying to get his attention. A gay character comes out with a brief and highly veiled comment.

Language: The script contains infrequent mild profanities and some name-calling.

Alcohol / Drug Use:Dragons are shot with a sedative-type drug. A man is also drugged.

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How to Train Your Dragon 2 Parents' Guide

Hiccup wants to resolve the conflict with the dragon hunters by talking instead of fighting. What do they ultimately do to stop Drago and his dragon hunters? Why does diplomacy not always work? Are both groups of Vikings playing by the same set of rules of combat?

One of the characters says he cannot change because he was born that way. Is that kind of argument an excuse for not wanting to improve or change? Does Hiccup have to be just like his father in order to be a good leader? How does Hiccup overcome his physical challenges?

How can parents and children learn to appreciate their differences? What strengths do each of them have in this story?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of How to Train Your Dragon 2 movie is November 11, 2014. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: How To Train Your Dragon 2
Release Date: 11 November 2014
How To Train Your Dragon 2 releases to home video (Blu-ray and DVD) on November 11, 2014. (It releases on Digital HD on October 21, 2014.)

How To Train Your Dragon (2 disc Blu-ray & Digital HD) includes:
- Feature film in high definition
- Fishleg’s Dragon Stats –Explore the Dragon 2 Guide and learn more about your favorite fire-breathing friends!
- Drago’s War Machines – Gobber the Belch narrates this inside look at the fierce creatures and “high-tech” weapons used by Drago to expand his growing dragon army.
- Berk’s Dragon World – Explore the massive stable created to house the dragons of Berk, along with other changes made on the island to promote harmonious living.
- Hiccup’s Inventions in Flight – Learn the secrets of how Hiccup and Toothless work together to form the ultimate high-flying team in this fascinating interactive tour.
- Deleted Scenes -- The awesome adventure continues with telling deleted and extended scenes, including action-packed footage you couldn’t see in theaters!
- Commentary by Simon Otto, Bonnie Arnold, Dean DeBlois, and Pierre-Olivier Vincent
- Where No One Goes: The Making of How To Train Your Dragon 2 – Writer-Director Dean DeBlois and his team take you behind the scenes of creating the film’s eye-popping visual effects and epic story
- Dragon Races – Catch the thrilling aerial action and exciting play-by-play commentary as you cheer on your favorite riders in a spectacular dragon race!
- Image Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer
- World of DreamWorks Animation – Move to the music videos from your favorite DreamWorks Animation feature films

How To Train Your Dragon (2 disc DVD) includes:
- Feature film in standard definition
- Fishleg’s Dragon Stats – How much do you know about your favorite dragons? Explore the Dragon 2 Guide and learn more about your favorite fire-breathing friends!
- Image Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer
- World of DreamWorks Animation – Music videos from your favorite DreamWorks Animation feature films

Bonus extra:
DreamWorks Animation is also releasing DRAGONS: DAWN OF THE DRAGON RACERS exclusively on the Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD Double Pack and Digital HD. This is an all-new animated adventure featuring the original voice cast. A hunt for lost sheep soon turns into a high-flying sprint as Hiccup and friends battle to become the first Dragon Racing Champion of Berk!

Related home video titles:

This movie is the sequel to How To Train Your Dragon. Unusual friendships between people and animals are depicted in Free Willy, Mighty Joe Young, King Kong and Flipper.

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