Film Review: ‘Trolls’ is Catchier Than it Has a Right to Be

Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 4, 2016 - 7:29am

CHICAGO – “Trolls” isn’t the type of confection that I would normally subject myself to, but at least it didn’t make me want to stick knitting needles in my ears. That’s because “Trolls” aspires to be this season’s “Frozen,” a full blown animated musical jam packed with songs you can’t get out of your head as much as you might try.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

In the movie’s world, Trolls live peacefully in safe exile after escaping from the clutches of a people called the Bergens. There’s plentiful singing, dancing, and hugs at regular intervals. And they’re led by Princess Poppy (voice by Anna Kendrick), who in addition to being on the verge of perpetually breaking into song, has an almost pathological positivity in the face of obstacles. Naturally she’s paired up with Branch (Justin Timberlake), the one Troll who’s as sour as she is sweet. And they must work together when one of Poppy’s over-the-top celebrations leads the Bergens to take the Trolls prisoner, once they discover their candy colored homeland.

“Trolls” opens everywhere on November 4th, in 3D and regular screenings. See local listings for theaters and show times of 3D screenings. Featuring the voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Baranski, Russell Brand, Gwen Stefani, John Cleese, James Corden and Jeffrey Tambor. Screenplay by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, from a story by Erica Rivinoja. Directed by Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn. Rated “PG”