(from left) Branch (Justin Timberlake) and Poppy (Anna Kendrick) in DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls World Tour,” directed by Walt Dohrn.
Trolls World Tour Review: A Mixtape of Magical Fun
Trolls World Tour sees the return of our beloved Queen Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and her friends as they must once again work together to save the Trolls. After discovering that there are many different kinds of Trolls, from pop to classical to techno, the Trolls must stop Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom), the Queen of the Rock Trolls. Barb seeks control of all the different genres of music and unite them all under rock. Queen Poppy, determined to warn the rest of the lands, leaves her pop kingdom behind and sets off on an adventure. Of course, Branch (Justin Timberlake) can’t let Poppy go alone, so he joins her on the ride. Their adventure turns out to be a learning experience as Poppy and Branch get insight into other worlds of music and reflect on themselves and their actions as they work to stop Queen Barb.
The characters we all know and love are back to entertain us once again. With some wonderful additions to round out the cast, the film succeeds in creating a world that feels accepting and warm. Rachel Bloom gives a pretty wonderful performance as Queen Barb. Her voice is perfect for it! Even with the characters we love, like Poppy and Branch, we get to learn a bit more about how they have progressed as characters as Poppy’s role has changed to Queen. I thought this was a great way to have the characters evolve without feeling repetitive or too much of a reach for younger viewers. Poppy has to learn not only to listen to her friends but also to listen to people who are different than her.
(from left) Tiny Diamond (Kenan Thompson), Guy Diamond (Kunal Nayyar), Smidge (Walt Dohrn), Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) in DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls World Tour,” directed by Walt Dohrn.
Much like the original, Trolls World Tour continues to wow us with colorful and vivid visuals with a mix of different animation. From the very first scene, we are pulled back into the magical world of the Trolls. The catchy music and colorful canvas that is the Trolls’ world will continue to delight audiences and keep the party going. While this film does have some darker elements, its message of unity while appreciating and respecting differences is what is the enduring message. Perhaps a little heavy-handed at times, it is still a message that is needed, especially in a time like this.
With the given storyline, Trolls World Tour can delve into a variety of music that makes the soundtrack feel more fresh and exciting. Each new world gave us a new sound and being able to work that into the theme of the film is beautifully done. Trolls World Tour is a high note delivered at the perfect time. A message of unity, understanding, and celebrating difference is just what we needed.
