Trolls World Tour Review: Rock You Like a Glitter Hurricane

The second installment in DreamWorks Animation’s massive display adaptation of the Troll dolls, Trolls World Tour unexpectedly finds itself being carefully noticed by business analysts desirous to see the way it fares in its straight to VOD launch (the result of theaters closing down over security considerations associated to the COVID-19 outbreak). For some, the concept of a Trolls sequel, which primarily exists becaue the unique IP made some huge cash, being assigned this a lot significance is understandably disconcerting. But, removed from having any delusions of grandeur, the precise film is simply actually frightened about delivering what its advertising has promised. As candy, if packaged, as wrapped sweet, Trolls World Tour serves up sufficient psychedelic visuals and constructive messages to earn its hold.

When the sequel picks up, all is properly with the Pop song-loving Trolls, their brilliant and bubbly Queen Poppy (as soon as once more voiced by Anna Kendrick), and her way more pragmatic pal and wannabe love curiosity, Department (Justin Timberlake). Earlier than lengthy, although, the pair uncover there are 5 different Troll tribes – every of whom are dedicated to a special sort of music a la Funk, Classical, Nation, and Techno – that at the moment are being threatened by Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom), a Onerous Rock-loving Troll who plots to wipe out all different musical varieties. However as Poppy and Department try and unite the remaining tribes in opposition to Barb, the previous progressively comes to comprehend Trolls actually aren’t all the identical…and that is not a nasty factor.

Associated: Why Trolls World Tour is 2020’s Most Important Movie Release

In a way, Trolls World Tour is to Zootopia what the primary Trolls was to Inside Out, on the subject of providing a extra simplified tackle themes (on this case, why actual tolerance means celebrating variations, not ignoring them) much like these explored in different, extra layered animated youngsters motion pictures from the previous few years. There’s even a minor subplot about the necessity to deal with the sins of the previous – as was examined as just lately as Frozen II – which is launched simply as abruptly because it’s resolved. The script by the movie’s 5 credited writers (together with, Trolls writing duo Jonathan Aibel and Glen Berger) is a bit too shallow to flesh these concepts out in a significant method, but it surely in any other case does a superbly nice job of offering kid-friendly life classes. At its messiest, Trolls World Tour is responsible of rehashing the sticky trope of getting one among its leads be secretly in love with the opposite, solely to study they see them as (gasp!) a pal – at the least, till they now not do.

Very similar to its predecessor, it is the animation the place Trolls Worlds Tour really shines. Director Walter Dohrn (who co-helmed the primary film) and his crew of artists hold the trippy, candy-colored visuals flowing steadily all through the movie’s brisk runtime, dazzling the attention even when its jokes or plot beats fall a bit flat. At it wildest, the Trolls sequel approaches old-school SpongeBob Squarepants ranges of surreal imagery, significantly throughout a sequence involving Christian Gray himself, Jamie Dornan, as Chaz, a Clean Jazz Troll bounty hunter employed by Barb to cease Poppy. (It is a lengthy story… really, no, it is not.) The jukebox musical sequences and standard tune covers are equally dynamic and effervescent of their staging, even when the sequel lacks an authentic earworm on the identical degree as the primary Trolls‘ Oscar-nominated “Cannot Cease the Feeling”.

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Much more than the unique movie, Trolls World Tour is overflowing with characters, with Bloom’s Queen Barb being (simply) probably the most memorable of the brand new additions. As she demonstrated along with her nice voice work in The Indignant Birds Motion pictures 2 final yr, the Loopy Ex-Girlfriend mastermind’s spirited vocals are a wonderful match for the medium of animation, and Barb herself is afforded a welcome quantity of depth (making her a robust foil to Poppy). The returning voice solid stays equally well-matched to their respective roles, and their ranks are properly stuffed out by contemporary supporting gamers like Sam Rockwell’s folksy Troll Hickory. For probably the most half, although, the totally different Troll lands are extra attention-grabbing than their playfully one-note inhabitants. (Apropos of nothing: these motion pictures additionally proceed to lift massive questions on how on earth Trolls’ bodily capabilities really work.)

All hypothesis about how the movie’s success or lack thereof may impression distribution fashions post-coronavirus apart, Trolls Worlds Tour manages to enhance upon its predecessor with out essentially evolving the Trolls film model alongside the best way. It performs issues secure by tackling massive subjects with much less depth than different animated tentpoles have of late, however goes even wilder with its animation and world-building, leading to a sequel that is extra entertaining and just a bit deeper than the primary film. Those that skipped seeing that one – and/or whose eyes glaze over each time a Trolls World Tour industrial pops up – can in all probability really feel snug taking a move on this one, too. However for anybody who may use some extra-bright and colourful silliness of their lives, this shot of glitter to the face would possibly do the trick.

NEXT: Watch the Trolls World Tour Trailer

Trolls World Tour is now accessible to observe On Demand. It’s 91 minutes lengthy and is rated PG for some gentle rumor humor.

Our Score:

three out of 5 (Good)

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About The Creator

Sandy Schaefer is Display Rant’s Film Evaluations Editor and an Affiliate Information Editor.

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