Movie Review: Trolls: World Tour

Trolls World Tour (2020) ** ½ / *****

Directed by: Walt Dohrn   

Written by: Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger and Maya Forbes & Wallace Wolodarsky and Elizabeth Tippet based on the Good Luck Trolls created by Thomas Dam.

Starring: Anna Kendrick (Poppy), Justin Timberlake (Branch), Rachel Bloom (Barb), James Corden (Biggie), Ron Funches (Cooper), Kelly Clarkson (Delta Dawn), Anderson .Paak (Prince D), Sam Rockwell (Hickory), George Clinton (King Quincy), Mary J. Blige (Queen Essence), Kenan Thompson (Tiny Diamond), Kunal Nayyar (Guy Diamond), Caroline Hjelt (Chenille), Aino Jawo (Satin), J Balvin (Tresillo), Flula Borg (Dickory), Ester Dean (Legsly), Jamie Dornan (Chaz), Gustavo Dudamel (Trollzart), Ozzy Osbourne (King Thrash), Anthony Ramos (King Trollex), Karan Soni (Riff), Charlyne Yi (Pennywhistle).

 

I know that logically, I should hate the Trolls movies. They are everything about children’s entertainment I usually find loathsome – crass, cynical commercial enterprises – made not so much to tell a story or entertain kids and adult alike – but rather as an act of brand extension and corporate synergies – here made even more cynical by adding in music stars and soundtracks to milk even more money out of parents. Yes, all movies are made to make money – and all kids movies are used to sell merchandise as well – at least if it’s good – but there is something about movies like Ugly Dolls and Angry Birds that seem so cynical. Frozen has all the same commercial and merchandising ambitions – hell, more considering the theme parks, and how many decades Disney will milk their products – but they also concentrate on delivering a good movie first, and everything else second. These others have that backwards. And Trolls really should be exhibit A of everything that is wrong with contemporary children’s entertainment. And yet, I have to say, the movies are kind of fun. There is no reason to see either Trolls movie – especially this latest one, which you have to “rent” for $20 as it is the lone big studio movie to opt for home viewing options rather than just push their release date – unless you have children. But I do have children – girls who are 8 and 6 – who both loved the first film, and couldn’t wait for the second film, so I bite the bullet, and shelled out the $20. And the whole family had fun watching this goofy movie. It isn’t very good – it isn’t even as good as the last film. But it’s fun.

 

If you remember the last Troll film, you’ll know that Poppy (Anna Kendrick) is now Queen of the Trolls, and her best friend Branch (Justin Timberlake) has been brought out of his shell, and now these pop music loving trolls live in absolute harmony with each other. So the writers have to invent another conflict (and do so in a way that will conveniently create all kinds of different troll dolls for you to purchase). Apparently, Troll kind used to be united – but they were separated years ago along musical lines – Pop, of course, Classical, Techno, Funk, Country and Rock – each being given a string, and separated. Now Barb (Rachel Bloom), the Queen of the Rock Trolls, has decided she wants all the strings for herself – uniting them all under the banner of Rock, and destroying all other kinds of music. She is doing pretty good too – rolling over the techno and classical trolls easily. So, of course, it’s up to Poppy and Branch to stop her.

 

The movie is pretty much a 90-minute assault on the senses - even more so than the original, which was already a non-stop parade of colors, glitter, music and motion. This movie doesn’t ever pause itself – the characters barely function as characters, and aren’t even given the depth they had last time. Instead, this movie just wants to get from one set piece to another, one musical number to another, one scene of glittery confection after another. It can be absolutely exhausting.

 

It is also just about the most colorful and cheerful movie in existence – and perhaps in a world this dark, that is precisely what is need – especially for children. I keep reading articles and tweets about how exhausting and difficult it is to be a parent, trying to work from home and homeschool your kids, and never having a second to yourself, always trapped with your kids 24/7 for who knows how long. But I do think we have to remember that if we’re trapped with our kids, that means they’re trapped with us. And this is a dark and confusing time for them.

 

So, no, Trolls: World Tour isn’t exactly a good movie. Perhaps in a theater, with 3-D, and the non-stop colors and all the sound, it would be been guaranteed headache inducing horror show. But released for home viewing, on Easter weekend, during a week’s long lockdown where you and your kids cannot get away from each, it was for us, just what was needed.