Family films often feel a bit eat-your-veg as they nag at kids with sensible worthwhile messages about the value of kindness or the importance of staying true to yourself. Not so the Trolls franchise, which is less veg, more M&Ms spiked with liquid LSD. This new film does have a message (try your best, perfection is overrated) but honestly, characters, themes, messages – they are all just a backdrop to the glitter and bonkersness.
Trolls Band Together is the third film in the franchise – and possibly the loopiest. Anna Kendrick returns to voice Poppy, queen of the Trolls, who is now officially dating grumpy Branch (Justin Timberlake). But he has a secret: he was once in the mega famous boyband BroZone with his four brothers. The truth comes out after one of the brothers, Floyd (Troye Sivan), is kidnapped by talentless double act Velvet (Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Andrew Rannells). The pair are chemically extracting Floyd’s talent to win a singing contest; the only thing that can save him is BroZone reunited, singing the perfect family harmony.
The plot makes not one bit of sense and is patently an excuse for a barrage of boyband gags, some a lot less funny than others (“Bro bro goin’ solo, YOLO!!!”). Timberlake, doubling up as soundtrack producer, has even reunited his old band ’NSync for the film’s forgettable title track Better Place. The funnest song here is a cover of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, performed by Girls’ Zosia Mamet, playing Velvet and Veneer’s downtrodden PA.
None of which is vintage family entertainment exactly. But the film is gloriously odd in its own candyfloss-coloured trippy way. My favourite moment of weirdness is the scene where Bergen monster Bridget gets married, floating above the aisle in a wedding dress made of white helium balloons – think kooky Björk on the red carpet. The balloons pop to reveal an edgy trouser-suit and roller skates underneath. Like I said, loopy. Take sunglasses.
• Trolls Band Together is released on 20 October in the UK, 17 November in the US and 30 November in Australia.
