MOVIE REVIEW: How To Train Your Dragon 2 - 'Heart of a Chief, Soul of a Dragon'

Director: Dean DeBlois
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill
Release Date: June 13, 2014

In 2010, DreamWorks Animation released How To Train Your Dragon, which was set to be their next trilogy. The results? The fifth highest grossing film that DreamWorks Animation has ever released. The film also went on to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. But can I say that I'm surprised? Not really. Dean DeBlois is not only the director of this film but he is also the writer. His past works consist of Lilo & Stitch, Mulan, Atlantis: The Lost Empire and more which are all animated films that have succeeded and I have personally enjoyed. With another film in the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy in the works already, DreamWorks Animation might finally have made another franchise that can compete with their most successful Shrek.

It's been 5 years since How To Train Your Dragon and the Vikings continue to live in harmony with the dragons. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) continues to do things to the beat of his own drum as he journeys uncharted areas with Toothless while Astrid (America Ferrera), Snotlout (Jonah Hill), Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and the rest of the gang are competing in dragon races. One of Hiccup and Toothless' journey leads them to dragon trappers who are working for Drago (Djimon Hounsou) who is planning a dragon war. Now Hiccup and Toothless must unite with the people and dragons of Berk and a mysterious dragon rider to take down Drago before it is too late.

The things that made How To Train Your Dragon amazing is back in the sequel with better animation and visuals. Directors tend to try to change things for a sequel and the elements that made the original work so well finds themselves out the window but DeBlois stays faithful to what made the first film so successful. Due to the sequel being 5 years after the first film, a lot of the characters have matured and no longer have the little kid attitude but that doesn't stop the film from giving you a joyful, feel-good time for not only the children but the parents as well. The film is also a little darker than it’s predecessor.

Besides fire breathing, flying is a huge skill that dragons have and it is beautifully displayed throughout the film. As soon as the film begins it starts off with Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs and the rest of Hiccup's classmates participating in a dragon race. The computer generated animation was executed exquisitely and you even grow jealous of Hiccup's ability to fly on his own.

As for the characters, none shine out as much as Jay Baruchel's Hiccup and Toothless, with Toothless being the life of the film. The chemistry between the two characters is as great as it was in the first film. Ferrera's Astrid shined in the earlier parts of the film when she had more dialogue with Hiccup resulting in some heart warming moments. The comedy part of the film was delivered from Ruffnut who was voiced by Kristen Wiig and Gobber who was voiced by Craig Ferguson.

Overall, Dean DeBlois delivers a nearly flawless sequel that all kids are going to love. It is fast paced, well told and beautifully made - a film that should be truly appreciated. You should take your young ones out on a trip to the theaters to actually see this film but you should save some cash and pass on the 3D experience. With only two other animated films set to hit theaters this summer, How To Train Your Dragon 2 should also be a huge hit in the box office and will have a shot in dethroning one of the Shrek films and move into the top 4 most successful DreamWorks Animation film.

MOVIE REVIEW: 22 Jump Street - 'Work Hard? Yes. Play Hard? Yes.'

Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube
Release Date: June 13, 2014

21 Jump Street took 2012's summer by a laughing storm as it was one of the best comedies of the year. In the film, Jonah Hill was 28 and Channing Tatum was 32 but were playing undercover high school students. The ages might be off but with the combination of the chemistry between the two and all the jokes within the film, no one really cared that they were double the age of a high school student. Now the actors are two years older and still playing student roles but this time they are freshmen in college. 21 Jump Street was certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and sequels usually never follow suit. But can these over age "students" pull off another hilarious stint?

Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are back to their usual antics, messing up on the job as regular policemen. And just like last time, Deputy Chief Hardy (Nick Offerman) is tired of it and sends them back undercover. 21 Jump Street has been relocated directly across the street to a bigger and more hi-tech church at 22 Jump Street. Captain Dickson (Ice Cube) gives the undercover cops a similar case as last time: infiltrate the dealers, find the supplier. This time the drug is WhyPhy (Work Hard? Yes. Play Hard? Yes) and instead of going back to high school for a third time, they are going to college.

If there's one thing to take from this film it's that directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller believe in the motto, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Lord and Miller give us the same storyline and recycle the jokes with 22 Jump Street. Do I blame them? No. Why? Because the film gives us the same result as the last one, a hilarious piece of work. The film starts off reflecting on what happened in 21 Jump Street, paying homage to its television route. From there it gets straight to an action scene in which the viewer can tell that the film has a bigger budget this time and if it wasn't obvious with the action scene, there are plenty of jokes throughout the film in which they point that out for you.

The storyline might be reused but it gets a tad bit deeper between Schmidt and Jenko. As they arrive at the college, the duo finds themselves hanging with different crowds that the other does not fit in with. Jenko finds himself on the football team and Schmidt hangs with the artsy students. The strain even goes as far as finding our heroes in a therapy session. Their relationship fallout starts off hilarious with the gags thrown into the storyline but by the end it gets worn outs and you start to feel the lengthiness of the film.

Along with the new jokes, Mercedes (Jillian Bell) added hilarious jokes towards Hill's character which makes their fight scene that much more hilarious by the time it arrives. Ice Cube is in the film more frequently than the first film and he kills every scene that he is in. The filmmakers make a hilarious nod towards Tatum's White House Down and reference other films as well in a jokingly matter throughout the film.

As of June 13th, 22 Jump Street is the best comedy of 2014. If you thought 21 Jump Street was hilarious then you must go to theaters to see the sequel being that it is better than its predecessor. Yes you have the same plot ultimately, but the jokes will have you overlook that and you will enjoy the film completely. Make sure you don't leave until the very end as the end credit sequence is just as funny.