The Reel Review
This animated musical adventure is based on the goofy little fuzzy haired dolls first made popular in the 1960s. It stars Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake as Poppy and Branch, an unlikely troll duo, one super cheery and the other super grumpy, who team up on a rescue mission after an ogre sporting a fanny pack kidnaps several members from their village.
While the eye popping Dreamworks animation is infectiously cute and the dialogue is refreshingly clever, it is the rousingly gleeful, feel good musical numbers that are the star of this sweet, joyous film. There are JUST SO MANY terrific songs. Kendrick and Timberlake are absolute perfection, with Christine Baranski, John Cleese and Zooey Deschanel rounding out an excellent ensemble cast.
Trolls won’t change the world, but its incredible soundtrack and inspiring message about finding your happiness from within will warm your heart, get your toes tapping, and leave a big smile on your face.
REEL FACTS
• The original troll doll was created by Denmark’s Thomas Dam in 1958. The first ones were filled with wood shavings.
• The quadruple platinum, Grammy-award winning, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” was the USA’s best selling song of 2016 and one of only eight singles in Billboard Hot 100 history to spend at least 40 weeks in the top 40.
• Trolls was Dreamworks Animation’s first musical since 2000’s The Road to El Dorado.
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