Review: Trolls Band Together

The third film in the Trolls franchise was made with one thing in mind: nostalgia. There has been a huge hype surrounding the movie, with the song Better Place giving NSYNC fans the reunion they’ve been craving for over two decades. While there was a semblance of a reunion, the film’s real star is the music.

Family, specifically siblings, is the focal point of this movie when Branch’s estranged brother (and former bandmate), John Dory (Eric André), shows up with a mission to save their brother Floyd (Troye Sivan). Floyd is being held captive by the talentless pop duo Velvet (Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Andrew Rannells), who use his essence to reach the top of the pop charts. Now the two, plus Poppy (Anna Kendrick), must get the old band BroZone back together to save him.

The interesting thing about this film and its predecessor is seeing the different characters and worlds within the Trolls universe. This leads to some exciting animation choices, from characters made of yarn to an ocean made with what looks like orbeez beads.

From song choices to 90’s pop references, It’s clear that this movie was made for the parents and not the kids. That’s usually a running theme from Dreamworks. Pixar tends to go for the emotion, while Dreamworks plays towards the adults. It’s more noticeable when it comes to the jokes. I’m surprised at how racy some of the punchlines were, but that’s what makes it fun for all.

What the Trolls franchise seems to be chasing in their sequels is the spark that made the original so popular. This one came close, and a large part of that is because of the music. That being said, there just wasn’t enough of it. The first movie was non-stop, and the music was incredible. The score guided the film even when there was a beat in between. It also highlighted both Kendrick and Timberlake’s vocals. Poppy feels like a background character who was given a storyline at the last minute. While it’s great to hear Justin sing some 90s classics, other characters were barely featured. I expect to hear more when you have names like Daveed Diggs and Troye Sivan.

Trolls Band Together is delightful, fun, cute, and colorful. The third installment hits a few high notes with 90s nostalgia, an NSYNC reunion, and fantastic music. The animation is simply gorgeous and creative. The premise is simple and easy for kids to follow, but at times, it becomes predictable, with multiple lines foreshadowing what will happen, making the outcome absurd. Thanks to Tiny Diamond (Kenan Thompson) for being the hilarious voice of reason throughout the film. While the music is a highlight, it leaves more to be desired. Hopefully, if they decide to do a fourth movie, we can also get a Pitch Perfect reunion.