How to Train Your Dragon 2

As the latest entry in a steady stream of kid-friendly animated products at the multiplex, How to Train Your Dragon 2 fits the bill.

There are the courageous young heroes, the plentiful 3D action sequences, and the colorful characters that seem ready-made for a promotional tie-in at a fast-food restaurant.

Yet what’s surprising is that underneath the surface, there’s a depth and thoughtfulness to the story that makes this sequel a worthy successor to the 2010 original, and shows an effort to become more than just a box-office cash cow.

The story picks up after the first film left off, with Vikings and dragons co-existing in harmony on the island of Berk. The adventurous Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) stumbles into trouble while exploring with his rare dragon named Toothless. Specifically, he encounters an ice cave housing a group of dragon poachers working for an evil madman (Djimon Hounsou).

Against the wishes of his father (Gerard Butler), who is the leader of the kingdom, Hiccup and Toothless try to reason with the villain in order to prevent a war. The resulting confrontation leads to life-changes consequences both for Hiccup’s family and for the relationship between humans and dragons.

A follow-up became inevitable after the financial success of the first film, which was adapted from the series of books by British children’s author Cressida Cowell and later was spun off into an animated television series with the same characters.

The screenplay by director Dean DeBlois, who returns from the first film, stumbles through an opening act overstuffed with exposition and rehash from its predecessor. However, things settle down once Hiccup ventures out on his own, after which the film offers a few clever twists while maintaining a nice balance of humor and poignancy. Along the way, there are gentle lessons of conservation, loyalty, diplomacy and parental responsibility.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 also showcases some sharply detailed and colorful animation, especially during its numerous flying scenes. The lively voice cast includes Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera and Jonah Hill.

At its core, this is a boy-and-his-dog film, except the canine has wings and breathes fire. Those bonds that were established in the first movie are strengthened even further in this sequel. So is the confidence of audiences that this franchise is achieving more than just blowing smoke.

Rated PG, 102 minutes.