If you take anything out of this perky family animation, it's the power of song. As Pharrell Williams did with Happy in Despicable Me 2, Justin Timberlake gives Trolls the catchy theme song Can't Stop the Feeling, which will have you smiling and, if you're an 8-year-old, dancing out of the theatre.
It's a brilliant ploy, as althoughsweet, feel-good and glittery, this isn't the most adventurous or imaginative adaptation of a toy craze. If you're unfamiliar with Trolls, all you need to know is they're colourful little creatures, originally from the 90s, with crazy sticky up hair and who like nothing more than singing, dancing and hugging. They're also fond of scrapbooking.
The Trolls are led by King Peppy (Jeffrey Tambor) and his daughter Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the happiest troll ever born, and they live deep in the forest, hidden from troll-munching monsters, the Bergens. That is, until Poppy throws the biggest dance party celebration ever - with eye-catching fireworks - and gives away their location to a disgraced and ostracised Bergen chef, voiced by Christine Baranski.
Chef is the Smurf's Gargamel of the Troll's world, and after capturing a bum belt full of Trolls, she redeems herself in the Bergen world by bringing King Gristle jnr(Christopher Mintz-Plasse) his first taste of troll. You see, the Bergen, which, as my son pointed out, look like they'd walked out of The Boxtrolls movie, believe they can experience happiness only by eating a happy Troll.
