Film Review: "Trolls Band Together" (2023).

"There are some new trolls on the block" in Trolls Band Together. This animated musical comedy film co-directed by Walt Dohrn and Tim Heitz, and written by Elizabeth Tippet, based on the Good Luck Trolls dolls from Thomas Dam, and produced by DreamWorks Animation. It serves as the sequel to Trolls World Tour (2020), and the third installment in the Trolls franchise. After two films of true friendship and relentless flirting, Poppy and Branch are now officially, finally, a couple! As they grow closer, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past. He was once part of her favorite boyband phenomenon, BroZone, with his four brothers: Floyd, John Dory, Spruce and Clay. BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby, as did the family, and Branch hasn’t seen his brothers since. But when Branch’s bro Floyd is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains—Velvet and Veneer—Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than pop-culture obscurity.

In late November 2021, it was announced that a third Trolls film would be released in theaters on November 17, 2023. Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake were confirmed to reprise their voice roles as Poppy and Branch. In late March 2023, Eric André, Kid Cudi, Daveed Diggs, Troye Sivan, Camila Cabello, Amy Schumer, Andrew Rannells, RuPaul, and Zosia Mamet rounded out the film's voice cast. Moreover, Dohrn returned to direct the third installment. Heitz was later announced as co-director. In addition, DreamWorks Animation revealed the official title, Trolls Band Together. According to Shay, the idea for the film came about right after Trolls (2016). Although the film was predominantly CGI animation, the film includes some 2D animation sequences done by Titmouse, Inc., with animation styles inspired by Yellow Submarine (1968) and Fantasia (1940). The film is the last film for the franchise to be animated by DWA Glendale, as past of layoffs due to cost cutting measures, with Sony Imageworks taking over as animation supervisor for future DreamWorks films, including Trolls sequels.

The film stars the voice talents of Kendrick, Timberlake, André, Cudi, Diggs, Sivan, Cabello, Schumer, Rannells, RuPaul, and Mamet. Timberlake and Kendrick's performances give this fun, colorful, and infectious musical sequel families will love some harmony.

The film is about the same as the first where it's a visually beautiful spectacle, but its weak script keeps it away from being anything more than a forgettably generic kids flick. It's a journey well-trodden, but nonetheless elevated by tight visuals, high-energy, and good vibes that make for some easy-breezy viewing. It is nowhere near the quality of the first film, with fleeting fun attached to mostly forgettable songs. What's missing is the wonderful weirdness that made the original ilm the strangest children's entertainment since H.R. Pufnstuf. Story wise, this one feels formulaic with less of an edge. The songs are kinda boring and the plot's pretty rote, but this film is shockingly beautiful and thought-through in all the design elements.

Simon says Trolls Band Together receives:

Also, see my review for Trolls World Tour and Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.