By Paul Hall
Poppy (Anna Kendrick) is one of the happiest trolls of all time. Ever since her father, King Peppy (Jeffrey Tambor), saved her from certain death, she has exuded more happiness than any member of the troll community. With Poppy all grown up in the new film Trolls, we get to see what happens when the eternally happy characters are faced with an attack on their happiness.
The Bergens are a community that is the direct opposite of the trolls. They have no happiness left anywhere within their being. It was always told to them that the way to true happiness was in eating a troll. And what used to be an annual tradition of eating troll had ceased when King Peppy led all the trolls to safety. But one Bergen is still looking for the trolls to find her way back into the new Bergen king Gristle’s good graces. Chef (Christine Baranski) longs for the chance to serve troll again and regain her power. When Chef finds the new troll home and grabs some of Poppy’s friends, it will be up to the happiest troll in the land to save everyone.
But Poppy won’t head out alone. The grumpiest troll, Branch (Justin Timberlake), needs coaxing, but decides to go with her in an attempt to save the trolls. The journey finds them encountering a talkative storm cloud, King Gristle, a servant girl who is in love with the king and plenty of other interesting characters. Will the trolls find their friends and remain happy?
It’s true — the trolls put a smile on my face. The film featured perfectly cast voice talent for this animated musical romp. From the lead roles featuring Kendrick and Timberlake to supporting roles for Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Baranski, Russell Brand and Gwen Stefani, to name a few, I found myself in love with the personalities brought to the films’ unique characters.
With a musical soundtrack starring some of these amazing voices, it is impossible to not have your foot tapping to the beat throughout the film. Beautifully animated, this film delivers a picture that radiates off the screen and holds its own alongside the music. But Trolls does fall short by failing to take advantage of Timberlake’s voice earlier in the production. The iconic music personality doesn’t lend his singing voice to the film until we are well over halfway through our journey. Sure, the story has him as a grumpy troll, but it would have been a good idea to get him to drop some musical influence into more of the film.
I can’t be disappointed with the total product that is Trolls. The colors, the music and the characters all left this critic wanting more. I love being happy — and Trolls makes me happy.
Trolls
Rated: PG
Voices of: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel
Directors: Walt Dohrn, Mike Mitchell
Grade: B+
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