Trolls World Tour

Even though its narrative ambition occasionally falters due to an excess of ideas and a lack of development, Trolls World Tour is a neon-drenched, music-soaked sequel that genuinely aims to expand its universe.

The main idea of the movie, which is that many troll tribes represent various musical genres dispersed over magical kingdoms, turns out to be both aesthetically pleasing and musically wonderful. Every realm is given a unique artistic treatment: the ruins of Vibe City allude to a vanished society of funk worshippers, while the techno-driven Symphonyville pulses with electric grids and laser shows. The Classical trolls live in floating amphitheaters of marble and cloud, while the Country trolls live in a desert of saloons and bales of hay. The animation crew and production designer Kendal Cronkhite obviously enjoyed making these unique universes, and their passion shows in the real spectacle.

Special recognition should be given to the music supervision. The movie focuses on genre authenticity rather than generic pop versions, with Sam Rockwell's Hickory delivering a surprisingly emotional "Tiny Diamond," Kelly Clarkson giving actual country anguish in "Born to Die," and Mary J. Blige adding weight to the funk song "It's All Love." The emotional crescendo of the final medley "Just Sing" is earned by the way it combines these different elements with musical-theater technique. The film's best original song, "Rock You Like a Hurricane," is given to Rachel Bloom's evil Barb, the head of the rock trolls, with a mocking theatricality reminiscent of classic Disney villainy.

Poppy's unwavering optimism is now hampered by issues of leadership and cultural sensitivity, but Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake still have a charming relationship. Surprisingly, the screenplay deftly addresses colonialism, appropriation vs appreciation, and the importance of musical integrity versus hybridization—heavy subjects handled lightly enough to avoid lecturing.

The narrative focus is sacrificed in order to expand the ensemble. The majority of the six musical realms that can be visited are treated superficially; the K-pop and reggaeton trolls are merely mentioned in passing, with their cultures acknowledged but not explored. Despite their first visual appeal, the Classical trolls serve only as story devices. The planet feels more like a theme park map than a real civilization as a result of this breadth-over-depth strategy.

The pacing is hampered by its repetitious structure: enter the kingdom, misinterpret the natives, flee the conflict, repeat. The film's 90-minute duration feels both crowded and undeveloped by the fourth iteration, and the rhythm becomes formulaic. The recurring supporting trolls' character arcs—Biggie, Cooper, and Guy Diamond—get token treatment that implies either writing-room apathy or editing-room casualties.

Despite being largely family-friendly, the humor occasionally reverts to offensive puns about bodily functions and pop culture allusions that will quickly become outdated. Although Kenan Thompson's vocal delivery makes Tiny Diamond, the baby hip-hop troll, amuse some viewers, it also serves as the movie's most overt attempt to capitalize on commercial prospects.

Despite its poor plot, Trolls World Tour is a successful musical performance and sensory experience. It stands out from more cynical animated sequels due to its dedication to visual diversity and genre authenticity, and its underlying message of respect and cultural exchange strikes a deeper chord than anticipated. The colors, lyrics, and humor will appeal to younger audiences, while the musical set pieces and the film's sincere attempt to tackle important subjects in candy-coated packaging may move adults. It's a crowded but loving celebration where everyone is encouraged to dance even when the discussion stalls.

Staff:

Directed by: Walt Dohrn

Written by: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Maya Forbes, Wally Wolodarsky, and Elizabeth Tippet

Story by: Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger

Based on: Good Luck Trolls by Thomas Dam

Produced by: Gina Shay

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Bloom, James Corden, Ron Funches, Kelly Clarkson, Anderson .Paak, Sam Rockwell, George Clinton, and Mary J. Blige.

Edited by: Nick Fletcher

Music by: Theodore Shapiro

Production company: DreamWorks Animation

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Release date: April 10, 2020

Running time: 91 minutes