Trolls Band Together – Can’t Quite Outperform Its Flaws

The Trolls franchise has dazzled audiences through two films with their colorful animation, colorful characters, and catchy soundtracks. A formula that has found it and the IP some success both at the box office and through inevitable merchandise sales, that formula appears to be getting a little old. As with most IP, the older it gets and the more saturated it becomes, the focus tends to shift on financial goals above all else. The question of whether or not a third Trolls film is needed is essentially irrelevant. Not being in the target demographic, it lives or dies on its mostly younger audience. While the magic isn’t quite there the third time around, Trolls Band Together is sure to nail down at least them through that aforementioned formula. That being said, there isn’t much there to begin with. An issue that will go largely unnoticed by those younger audiences, it may be one for the parents taking them to theatres. Running at a relatively short 92 minutes, even that could be a challenge. Though the franchise formula is getting old, this third film is repetitive in and of itself. Ultimately, audiences can count on DreamWorks to at least deliver in the animation department.

In terms of themes and plot, Trolls Band Together isn’t bringing anything remotely new to the table. Seemingly indifferent about delivering much in the way of plot, it’s goal is to somehow get to its derivative overarching theme. A film about togetherness, the characters have to first find a way to get together again. The focus this time around is on Branch (Timberlake) whose backstory as a member of a notorious boyband was revealed. Part of ‘BroZone’ with his brothers Floyd (Troye Sivan), John Dory (Andre), Spruce (Daveed Diggs), and Clay (Kid Cudi), the group disbanded when he was still a baby, leaving him to fend for himself. The core of what made Branch what he was today, the others since went their separate ways and live their own lives while he went on to repress those memories and resentment. However, when his past came trickling back upon the news that Floyd was kidnapped and the only way to save them was to get the band together. From there, a new adventure began.

The story saw Poppy (Kendrick), Branch, and John Dory, attempt to search for clues and track down the remaining members of Brozone to save Floyd. Over the course of the film, plenty of antics ensued as their adventure was also a means for Branch to iron out his issues with himself and his family. Coming in bits and pieces, these moments were often interrupted by the next musical sequence that featured characters performing one pop cover after another. After a while, the film appeared more concerned about the next musical sequence than anything else, perhaps acknowledging its own inherent thinness in the process. Now in what should come as a surprise to absolutely no one, the film is also incredibly predictable though within those predictable moments are a decent amount of laughs that will help make that journey somewhat worth taking. Harkening back to the era of boybands, it gives it a nostalgia factor that may check some boxes with audiences but that well runs dry pretty fast.

While the story may not be there, audiences can count on DreamWorks to deliver when it comes to animation. Compared to the first two entries in the franchise, the film offers much of the same. While the overwhelming brightness and vibrancy of the characters and environments are there, it’s just a shame that the story couldn’t do anything interesting with it. Similarly, the soundtrack is also a winner but the film somehow finds a way to make them dull once one comes to terms with what its intentions truly are. However, the best part of Trolls Band Together is its performances. From Kendrick and Timberlake, to the smattering of others making up its impressive cast who can all sing, they breathe life into it in spite of the material not necessarily being there this time.

At the end of the day, Trolls Band Together has its moments but for the most part, is a misfire that can’t quite outperform its own flaws.

still courtesy of DreamWorks Animation

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.