It's a reflection of the times we’re in thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic that this fun animated movie skips a general cinema release and goes straight to download.
The cost for Universal must be steep, and there’s no doubt that cinema won’t come out the other side of this virus without suffering financially.
It’s a pity in particular for this film, as Trolls World Tour is a bright and bouncy affair that would look amazing on the big screen. Still, it’s a fine sequel and anyone who enjoyed its Trolls predecessor will lap this one up.
Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake return as Poppy and Branch respectively in what’s pretty much an all-star sequel to the 2016 musical hit.
It’s quite an adventure as the pair discover that they are but one of six different Troll tribes scattered over six different lands and devoted to six different kinds of music: Funk, Country, Techno, Classical, Pop and Rock.
The bad news is that a member of hard-rock royalty, Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom), wants to destroy all other kinds of music to let rock reign supreme.
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With the fate of the world at stake, Poppy and Branch, along with their friends - including scene-stealer James Corden as Biggie - set out to visit all the other lands to unify the Trolls in harmony against Barb.
The music is fun, even the yodellers gave me a laugh as the tune they’re singing is borrowed from Focus, a Dutch prog rock group from the 1970s.
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Indeed, parents who might otherwise be bored to tears while keeping kids company should enjoy a lot of the tunes used throughout the film. Only the most heart-hearted and tune-free adults won’t enjoy this latest Trolls adventure.
There’s also a strong, positive message in Trolls World Tour about being yourself and embracing diversity, which will surely annoy the angry villagers out there.
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The supporting cast list is impressive, with the likes of Mary J Blige, George Clinton, Kelly Clarkson and Sam Rockwell isn the mix. Best of all though is veteran rocker Ozzy Osbourne, who voices ageing rock troll King Thrash.
With all of us under lockdown, this is pretty much a pitch-perfect family film.
Trolls World Tour is now available at home on demand.
