[Rating: Solid Rock Fist Up]
The Trolls franchise, which began in 2016 during a time when the world needed a little laugh from inch-long forest dwelling and pop singing cryptids, is back with its third installment Trolls Band Together and taking the old approach of “getting the band back together” in a whole new way.
Filled with the same colorful and fancy characters like Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake), these two set off on a quest to reunite Branch’s long lost brothers in order to save the Troll world, as usual. It’s fun for kids and a bit edgy for adults, certain to have a chuckle or two with its dazzling displays.
Continuing where the last film left off, Poppy and Branch attend the wedding of King Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasee) and Bridget (Zooey Deschanel), when that is interrupted by John Dory (Eric André), Branch’s long lost brother. It turns out, Branch was part of a Troll singing group called BroZone when he was a baby and since going their separate ways, brother Floyd (Troye Sivan) has been kidnapped by wannabe pop stars, humanoids Velvet and Veneer, (Amy Schumer and Andrew Rannells) who want to harvest trolls for their talent. Its up to Poppy, Branch, John Dory and Tiny Diamond (Kenan Thompson) to help find the missing brothers Clay (Kid Cudi) and Spruce (Daveed Diggs), rescue Floyd, and create a family harmony. Along the way, they meet Viva (Camila Cabello), a fellow troll afraid of the world outside her kingdom, who looks an awful lot like our favorite pink troll Poppy.
For what it’s worth, I’m not the audience these movies are aimed for. And yet…I had a really good time. Animated flicks are getting edgier these days. I’m a teacher, I know this and I know what kids respond to and adults get with subtlety. There is one very obvious bleeped curse word in this movie that made me laugh so hard, alongside the near Breaking Bad reference that Branch and Tiny Diamond share, riding in their Winnebago. Personally, this one was a step up from the second in the franchise because the stakes were much more present and Branch’s backstory got to be explored more in depth. Now we know even more about his curmudgeon attitude.
Look you guys, it’s a cute movie! Trolls, if anything, has one of the best soundtracks that takes really famous songs and makes them fun. Auto-tuning galore is happening, but if it’s for the kiddies and families, who cares? This was made for a damn good time and in the end, I’m happily happy with the final end result and wouldn’t mind a fourth installment from this juggernaut of a little guy.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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