Trolls World Tour

This colourful, musical-based sequel is aimed squarely at the under-10s audience – adults’ enjoyment may find vary greatly, depending on how you felt about the original 2017 film.

Premise:  Poppy (Anna Kendrick) is adjusting to her new role as queen of her tribe of Pop Trolls, but after Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom) of the Rock Trolls threatens to destroy all music except for rock, Poppy and Branch (Justin Timberlake) have to set off on a quest to unite the six tribes of the Troll Kingdom.

Review:

If you (or your children) were a fan of 2017’s original Trolls film, the good news is that Trolls World Tour is very much just more of the same.  That said, while I found the first film inoffensive, I also found it didn’t really work for me on any level other than as a movie aimed squarely at (younger) kids.

Credit where credit’s due though, the writers of Trolls World Tour have come up with a plot that is more than a simple rehash of the first movie.  This time, it’s revealed (in a retcon of Trolls’ history from the first film) that there are in fact six tribes in the Troll Kingdom (no mention is made of how the Bergens from the first film fit into this), each one representing a different style of music: Pop, Rock, Classical, Techno, Country and Funk.  Queen Barb of the Rock tribe is out to steal the magical strings of each tribe, which when united, will allow one style of music to rule them all.

“…has some interesting points to make about diversity, homogenisation, colonisation & cultural heritage…”

On the surface, the plot really is just an excuse for another series of comedic interludes, as the main storyline sees Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) travelling to the various tribes, while the secondary plot involves all of the film’s many (many) peripheral characters, including James Corden as Biggie, Ron Funches as Cooper, Kunal Nayyar as Guy Diamond, and Kenan Thompson as Tiny Diamond – none of whom really get enough time to really develop much of a character (although they do each get some decent gags which should amuse younger viewers).

But beneath the saccharine, day-glow exterior, the film does actually have some interesting points to make about diversity, homogenisation, colonisation and cultural heritage, in a way that’s accessible to younger viewers (and a bit more original than the first film’s “happiness is found inside of you” message).  All that, and it also has some entertaining cameos from the likes of Sam Rockwell, Mary J.Blige, Kelly Clarkson, J Balvin and Ozzy Osbourne (even if the soundtrack isn’t quite as catchy as the first film’s).

“…works as a straight-up kids’ movie…”

Like the first Trolls film, this lacks the layers and subtly of some other animated films that work on one level for children, and another level for adults.  Trolls World Tour only works on one level – as a straight-up kids’ movie – but younger viewers will probably love it (and no doubt award it more than my 2-stars).