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Trolls 3D
Stars: Voices: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Baranski, Russell Brand, Gwen Stefani, John Cleese, James Corden, Jeffrey Tambor
Director: Mike Mitchell. Co-director: Walt Dohrn
I regret to say that I find DreamWorks onscreen logo a Hollywood-cute little boy fishing from a crescent moon high in the sky just a tad too saccharine for my liking.
Fortunately DreamWorks Animation's (creator of the profitable Shrek franchise) latest entry into the popular keep the kids happy film fantasies is largely free from too much sugar-sodden storytelling.
First rate 3D filming and animation to match creates a vividly weird one-of-a-kind world where the eponymous cheerful-to-excess Trolls sing and dance and generally behave in a happily high (parents need not worry, no drugs are involved!) way, singing and dancing and generally having a terrific Technicolor-style life.
Until, that is, their Troll village is invaded by the misery-guts Bergens, only happy when they have a Troll in their stomachs, leaving happiest ever Troll Poppy and misery-guts Branch to embark on an engagingly daffy mission to rescue captured Trolls.
But will the mismatched duo survive
?
Slick animation and effective 3D cinematography brings the Trolls (who, like so many modern movie performers, began life as childrens toy dolls) engagingly to life and screenwriters Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger provide plenty of comic moments, along with thrills, chills. For good measure, there are five original songs, along with some vintage hits to decorate director Mike Mitchell and co-director Walt Dohrns brisk storytelling.
Vocal casting adds to the fun, with Kendrick speaking and singing for Poppy, while Timberlake (doubling as executive movie music producer) adds zest to Branch.
Christine Baranski stands out speaking for a beastly Bergen while for ardent Brits Russell Brand (like Jennifer Aniston, better heard than seen) and John Cleese speak up for Brexit Britain.
Its an entertaining, heartily put-across kidflick, which, should please youngsters while, happily, should keep accompanying adults amused rather than wishing it would end.
Alan Frank
USA 2016. UK Distributor: 20th Century Fox. Technicolor.
92 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: U.
Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.
Review date: 30 Oct 2016