Trolls **½ (2016, voices, Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Christine Baranski, Russell Brand, Gwen Stefani, John Cleese, James Corden, Jeffrey Tambor) – Movie Review

Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake lend their chirpy voices to the cute main characters of happy Troll Poppy and grumpy Troll Branch, who set off to rescue their friends when the Bergens invade Troll Village and snatch a prize catch of locals.

Pointless but harmless, this really silly animated comedy from the creators of Shrek is in the soppy but happy category, with its main ace being its disco era retro look and soundtrack. It’s hard to take against it and easy to sit back and let it all pass easily by you. Kendrick and Justin Timberlake plus the songs do brighten up the film a lot. The story, such as it is, accesses Cinderella strongly. But why? Why not?

I felt I should probably be enjoying it more, though this is hard in an empty cinema (there were two other people actually), though it did make me smile a bit. Mostly I sympathised with grumpy Branch, though just occasionally I felt a little Anna Kendrick happy.

I’m afraid I cannot report that it is in the Shrek class. It never did quite appeal to my inner child or my inner happy person. Oh well, OK, just a little.

How could it cost $125 million? It’s a mystery.

By the way, I’ve already found my happy place – the cinema – toastingly warm on this freezing November night.

Other voices are provided by Zooey Deschanel as Bridget, Christine Baranski as Chef, Russell Brand as Creek, Gwen Stefani as DJ Suki, John Cleese as King Gristle Sr, James Corden as Biggie, Jeffrey Tambor as King Peppy and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as King Gristle.

Justin Timberlake, Max Martin and Shellback are Oscar nominated for the hit song ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’. It was performed at the The Eurovision Song Contest (2016) as an interval act though previously Timberlake had no idea what the Contest was.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Review

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