Trolls, World Tour

Directed By: Walt Dohrn
Screenplay by: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky, Elizabeth Tippet
Story by: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Produced By: Gina Shay
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Bloom, James Corden, Ron Funches, Kelly Clarkson, Anderson Paak, Sam Rockwell, George Clinton, Mary J. Blige
Edited By: Nick Fletcher
Music By: Theodore Shapiro
Production Company: DreamWorks Animation
Release Date: April 10, 2020
Content: Youth

Plot: In the techno kingdom, King Trollex's tribe of Techno Trolls are attending a rave, when Hard Rock Trolls led by Queen Barb arrive and use weaponised guitars to destroy everything. Queen Barb demands Trollex to surrender and hand over his "string".

Queen Poppy later receives a letter from Barb, inviting her to bring her "string" to unite the trolls. Former King Peppy explains there were once six magical lyre strings that represented major tribes of music - Pop, Hard Rock, Techno, Funk, Classical, and Country. However, the six tribes took their strings and went their separate ways. Peppy, Branch, and the others don't trust Barb's invitation, but Poppy decides to sneak out with her string, to prove Barb is the same as any other troll. Branch (who is trying to confess his love) and Biggie (who stowed away) accompany her. At the same time, a giraffe-like Pop Troll named Cooper finds old illustrations of trolls his shape, and sets off to find them, eventually getting beamed up into a spaceship.

Meanwhile, Barb sends bounty hunters of smaller music genres to find Poppy, promising to spare the tribe of the successful one. Poppy's group soon discovers the ruins of the Classical tribe's town, Symphonyville. A sentient flute, Pennywhistle, tells them that Barb wants to forcefully unite all trolls under Rock. They then head to Lonesome Flats to warn the centaur-like Country Trolls. Poppy feels their music is too downbeat and decides to try to cheer them up first, despite Branch's reservations. The Pop Trolls wind up imprisoned, but are rescued by a smooth-talking Country Troll named Hickory, who builds them a raft to take them to Vibe City to warn the Funk Trolls. They encounter Chaz, a Smooth Jazz troll, who paralyzes them with his music, until Hickory, using gumdrop earplugs to remain immune, drives him off. Biggie deserts the group, angry that Poppy broke an earlier promise to keep him safe.

The group reaches Vibe City, which turns out to be the spaceship that took Cooper. They reunite with Cooper, who reveals that he is actually the long-lost son of Funk Trolls King Quincy and Queen Essence, and twin brother of their son Prince D. Poppy maintains all trolls are the same, but Prince D explains that Pop Trolls once tried to unite all trolls under Pop, causing the initial split. The Hard Rock Trolls attack the ship, and Poppy's group is ejected to safety. Poppy and Branch argue over her refusal to listen; Branch walks off, and is captured by Reggaeton and K-Pop trolls, who fight over him until he convinces them to work together with him against Barb.

End of Spoilers

Review: This is the sequel to the 2016 film Trolls. It's a fun and amusing film that promotes musical diversity. Both the original film and this one are based on the Hasbro toys of the same name. The film has been popular with both children and parents due to the mixture of up beat and catchy songs and the easy to follow good vs bad story plot. The film is marked by it's use of fast paced music and flashing lights and colours. Several factors that oddly upset many parents who found the distracting and unpleasant. From the children's perspective it was all fun and games.

The main plot of this sequel picks up after King Gristle Sr. banishes Chef, vowsvows to find the trolls, while secretly plotting to overthrow the monarchy as revenge for her exile. Twenty years later, an adult Poppy organises a gigantic party to celebrate the anniversary of the escape. A short-tempered, grey, survivalist troll named Branch warns that this could compromise their position, but everyone ignores him. His warnings come true when Chef follows the lights and noise.

The rest of the film is a wild mixture of danger, friendship, romance, music, conflict resolution and of course plenty of colour.

M J Flack