October 26th 2023.
I still have a soft spot for Trolls. It was a jolly, rainbow-coloured family animation that offered humour, heart, and cute felt-tastic visuals. Not to mention, an Oscar-nominated hit song, Can't Stop The Feeling. It was simply like receiving a warm and fuzzy hug.
Unfortunately, the sequel, Trolls World Tour, is nothing like its predecessor. It's a corporate cash grab that lacks the soul of the original. Watching it is like getting a punch in the face; it's a garish package of 'content' that is truly, physically painful to watch.
The script incoherently smushes together two different storylines. Prince Gristle and his fiancé Bridget's nuptials are rudely interrupted by the arrival of Branch's long-lost brother. It turns out that Branch was once part of a boyband called BroZone, which acrimoniously disbanded when he was still a baby. Now, the remaining bros must reunite to save 'the sensitive one', who has been kidnapped by a villainous, fame-seeking pop duo.
Aimed to appeal to parents who grew up on 1990s boybands, it features NSYNC's first original song in 22 years. Plus, the animation lights up with creative references to 1930s Disney cartoons as well as some trippy and fun 2D Yellow Submarine sequences.
The storytelling, unfortunately, is depressingly poor. So poor, in fact, that it's heckled by its own characters. Not even an all-star cast can save this painful watch. The jeopardy is thin on the ground and the relatable family dynamics are lacking. It's clear that this was made purely to make money.
Justin Timberlake declared back in 2020 that he hoped they would make seven Trolls movies. Well, it's obvious why. It's a gift to their bank balance, but for the kids, it's just empty calories. They deserve better.
Trolls World Tour is out now in cinemas.
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