Though perhaps not as fresh as the 2010 original, How to Train Your Dragon 2 offers moments of awe, more mature storytelling and the return of a weird but wonderful hero, says Eli Glasner.

Canadian director Dean Deblois reteams with Montrealer Jay Baruchel for this sequel to the high-flying, Vikings-and-dragons animated tale that first dazzled audiences in 2010.

Baruchel, the voice behind lovable hero Hiccup, leads a star-studded cast that includes the voices of America Ferrera, Kit Harington, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Kristen Wiig, Djimon Hounsou and Cate Blanchett.

With a sequel, "so much of what was new is old," says Glasner. Regardless, the sequel raises the stakes and soars again, he adds.

Watch Glasner's review of How to Train Your Dragon 2 in the attached video.