Trolls World Tour film review: animated musical sequel a perfect tonic for these distressing times

3/5 stars

The sequel to the 2016 animation Trolls , Trolls World Tour is brightly rendered, ludicrously jolly and full of sing-a-along tunes. In other words, it’s probably what the world could do with right now.

Bypassing cinemas closed by the coronavirus crisis and heading straight for video-on-demand in some countries, it’s a bold move by studio backers Universal and one that should pay off. For parents with kids on lockdown, this will bring some much-needed light relief.

Returning to the Day-Glo, glitter spouting world of Trolls, we’re reunited with Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake). Early on, this pop-loving pair makes a shocking discovery: there are other trolls who like different music – funk, rock, classical, techno and country – scattered around the land.

So the story goes, the trolls were once united but became intolerant of their musical differences. These other trolls can’t even grasp the concept of MC Hammer’s Hammer Time, we’re told.

Now a rock chick troll named Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom) wants to collect the magical, musical string that each tribe possesses, bringing them together to play the ultimate power chord. Think of her like the troll version of The Avengers’ Thanos, collecting his infinity stones.

Gathering in a pink hot air balloon, Poppy, Branch and their giant blue troll friend Biggie (James Corden) set out to stop her, as they venture from the classical Symphonyville to the funky Vibe City.

Directed by Walt Dohrn, who was behind the 2016 original, and David P. Smith, who receives a co-director credit, Trolls World Tour cracks along at a terrific pace, driven by a jukebox soundtrack that has licence to go into every genre.

The opening credits begin with a riff on Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – yes, you guessed it, Trolls just wanna have fun – but the eclectic playlist is infectious, with everything from the Spice Girls’ Wannabe to Psy’s Gangnam’ Style getting an airing.

Timberlake and Kendrick, of course, also sing for their supper, with Timberlake particularly good on the song Perfect For Me, which he co-wrote. The humour is gentle but amusing – like the bounty hunters that set out to capture Poppy for Queen Barb, a motley collection of smooth jazz lovers, K-pop singers, Reggaeton dancers and yodellers.

There’s a message too – that we all need difference in our lives. But it doesn’t get in the way of the film’s overall relentlessly sunny demeanour or its imaginative animation.

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