SEATTLE — FOOD/DRINK BEFORE SCREENING: cheeseburger, fries and beer
MOOD: good, in relation to how one feels during a pandemic
EXPECTATION OF MOVIE: low
Honest Reviews always begin with transparency about what I am thinking and feeling when I watch a movie.
And honestly, it’s never felt more relevant than in this moment.
Doing a movie review while working from home/staying at home/watching from home is one of the stranger things I’ve experienced in the past month. And given how strange EVERYTHING is right now, that’s saying something.
But, here goes!
My family and I ate dinner before I watched the movie – takeout burgers and fries from Giddy Up in Ballard. This isn’t an ad for them (though the service and food was great,) but more of a nod to our general need for comfort food right now. Also, they sell to-go growlers. Hence, the beer.
My mood was good, by pandemic standards. My 11-year-old daughter wanted to watch the movie with me, which gave us something to look forward to together.
My expectations for the movie were low. I liked but didn’t love the original movie, so other than the music I didn’t expect much.
Thankfully, there is a LOT of music in this sequel. Almost right out of the gate, you’re hit with an earworm version of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, swapping “girls” with “trolls.” There are cover songs and originals galore, representing virtually every genre. It’s actually the entire point of the plot.
In this second Trolls story, it’s revealed the world is actually much bigger than Poppy, Branch and their friends every imagined. Other tribes of trolls are out there – separated or “segregated” by their chosen musical genre, and each tribe has a string (think guitar or harp) that’s sacred to their sound.
Poppy is queen of the Pop Trolls, as it turns out. But there are also tribes representing country, classical, funk, techno and rock.
And woo boy, the queen of the rock trolls is a VILLAIN. She wants to steal the strings from all the other tribes and turn every troll into a rocker.
(As someone who grew up loving classic, punk and even hair rock bands, this didn’t seem like such a bad idea to me. But, I digress.)
The original cast members return (Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake and James Corden among them,) and they're joined by the voices of Kelly Clarkson, George Clinton, Mary J. Blige, and Kenan Thompson.
The animation is as colorful and textile-driven as the first film, with all the characters and backdrops resembling a scrapbook. It’s a feast for the eyes, and to directly quote my daughter: “Everything is just so cute in this!”
There are also some fun nods to the “older” audience – like the rock queen’s father, who strongly resembles and sounds like Ozzy Osbourne. (Because, blessedly, he’s played by Ozzy Osbourne.)
But it’s the messages for kids that matter most, and in Trolls World Tour they learn the eternal power of a pinky promise; they come to see how “sugar!” can be used in place of a swear word; and, ultimately, they will understand the importance of working together to achieve harmony.
“You have to be able to listen to other voices even when they don’t agree with you” is the most on-the-nose but important line we can hope children absorb from this adorable animated film.
So, my honest review of Trolls World Tour? It’s not the most sophisticated or introspective animated film of the year but given our current stay-at-home situation, it was a breath of fresh air and well worth watching. The music is great and the cast is awesome (did I mention Sam Rockwell is in it?!?) But more than anything, it gave me and my daughter a great reason to snuggle on the couch and laugh.
WHAT IS “HONEST REVIEW”?
I’m a member of the Critics Choice Association. I interview actors and filmmakers. I’ve worked in broadcast television for 20 years.
I’m also a Seattle wife and mom who works full-time and sits in an hour of traffic (minimum) every day.
Sometimes I’m tired when I screen a movie. Sometimes I’m traveling and I miss my kids. Sometimes I’ve had a glass wine when I should have had a glass of water.
All of these things can impact my reaction to a film. Because I’m human.
So in an effort to write an Honest Review, I’ll always list the external factors that might affect my enjoyment of the movie. Then, I’ll give you my review. Then, you can decide if it’s useful or not.
What do you think of Honest Review or Trolls World Tour? Let me know at @kimholcomb.
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