Nostalgia is all the rage these days. Perhaps it was less noticeable when I was younger as the only things being sold to me where the “hip” and “popular” things as I was in the range of folks with disposable income to spare. But that time has passed and it’s no longer the hits from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s on the classic rock channel, but the songs from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s — which means that I’m old and companies want to tap into that longing for yesteryear in order to get me to buy things. Surprisingly, the first two Trolls films released by DreamWorks Animation, Trolls (2016) and Trolls World Tour (2020), only leaned on nostalgia for its music and not for its narrative. For the third outing, a meaningful story is mostly pushed aside to create opportunities to utilize song after song, as well as a reunion for one of the biggest boy bands of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, ultimately creating a cotton candy confection of an experience that’s fairly forgettable given the terrible tooth ache it leaves behind. However, if Trolls Band Together is your jelly and jam, it’s now available from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and includes over an hour of bonus materials that’ll satisfy that nostalgic desire for the past, provide more information on the making of the film, and help you keep the pop party going.
L-R: Branch (Justin Timberlake) and Poppy (Anna Kendrick) in TROLLS BAND TOGETHER, directed by Walt Dohrn. © DreamWorks Animation LLC.
A month after the conclusion of the events of Trolls World Tour, Poppy and Branch (Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake, respectively) are still settling into their relationship as a couple, but are excited for what’s to come. But as the two are delighting in their time together and celebrating the wedding of friends Bridget and King Gristle (Zooey Deschanel and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, respectively), the ceremony is interrupted by the arrival of an unexpected guest, a troll named John Dory (Eric André), Branch’s previously unknown older brother. But before the dust can settle on this bombshell, John Dory informs everyone that their *other* brother Floyd (Troye Sivan) is being held captive and needs their help. While Troll rescues are becoming a specialty of Poppy and Branch, to get their brother back, it’s going to take more than dance moves, glitter, and pop music, it’s going to mean that Branch reunites with all of his brothers and produces the perfect harmony. But how can they do that when they haven’t been in sync since Branch was just a diaper-wearing Baby Branch?
L-R: Velvet (Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Andrew Rannells) in TROLLS BAND TOGETHER, directed by Walt Dohrn. © DreamWorks Animation LLC.
The typical format for a home release review on EoM without an original initial release review is to try to maintain some mystery while exploring the ideas within the film. However, the issues within Trolls Band Together run deep, so we’re going to provide a spoiler warning *here* so that no Troll will be left behind as we identify the good, the bad, and the WTF about this third outing in the Trolls series of films.
But first, here’s what to expect with the bonus features.
L-R: Branch (Justin Timberlake), Tiny Diamond (Kenan Thompson), Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and John Dory (Eric André) in TROLLS BAND TOGETHER, directed by Walt Dohrn. © DreamWorks Animation LLC.
Without a doubt, Trolls Band Together is meant for the parents in the audience because it’s *all* about that sweet, sweet nostalgia as the film is a vehicle for an N*Sync reunion. The bonus features lean into this as there are two devoted featurettes, “Hi, Hi, Hi” and “Together Again,” dedicated to exploring, in-brief, the conception and execution of Timberlake bringing his former bandmates into the Trolls fold. If you’ve ever enjoyed a single song from the boy band, you’re going to get a jolt of serotonin watching them in the studio working or just generally chatting with each other and us. For those looking for insight into the individual characters, their arcs, and the actors who play them, the six-part featurette “Building The Band” breaks it all down for you with words from the cast and crew on everyone from our heroes, our villains, and Biggest Boy (don’t tell him otherwise) Tiny Diamond. Additionally, there’s a four-minute featurette centered on the making of the film titled “Animating Trolls,” as well as four deleted scenes guided by Head of Story Colin Jack. Honestly, of them all, my favorite is the nearly four-minute “Fun in the Recording Booth” as it allows us to see the cast at the mic working on their line-readings, successfully and less so, creating a rather charming viewing experience.
L-R: Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Viva (Camila Cabello) in TROLLS BAND TOGETHER, directed by Walt Dohrn. © DreamWorks Animation LLC.
For those looking for more understanding into the film, there’s a feature commentary track featuring Producer Gina Shay, Co-Director Tim Heitz, Head of Story Colin Jack, Production Designer Ruben Perez Reynoso and Visual Effects Supervisor Marc J. Scott — though this may only apply to the animation fans that appreciate the textured look of the Trolls world, especially with the introductions of new lands and characters that break away from the scrapbooking/crafty world design of Poppy and Branch to better represent the specificity of the new extensions. If getting hands-on is your thing, there are seven craft tutorials with six focused on being able to draw the members of BroZone and one instructing home viewers how to make their own hug time bracelet.
Wrapping up the included bonus features is a brand-new short film, “It Takes Three,” which follows Poppy, Viva, and Tiny Diamond into a journey through the Hustle-Verse. It’s more lyric video than short, but it still has its charms. But if music is your thing with these movies and you want more like “It Takes Three,” there is a version of the film included with the home release that invites audiences to sing along with the movie, complete with visible lyrics to make it easier for less experienced Trolls fans to participate.
Before digging into the things that landed flat in the two watches I’ve had, allow me to pass along my eight-year-old’s reaction to the film: “Best movie ever. 5 stars.” He’s the target audience for this, so all that follows is the perspective of someone with a different worldview and expectation.
L-R: John Dory (Eric André), Clay (Kid Cudi), Poppy (Anna Kendrick), Branch (Justin Timberlake), Viva (Camila Cabello), Floyd (Troye Sivan) and Spruce (Daveed Diggs) in TROLLS BAND TOGETHER, directed by Walt Dohrn. © DreamWorks Animation LLC.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a film that wants to just be a good time, to send its characters on an adventure because they can. Strangely, while the first two films did this *and* possessed a meatiness to the narrative exploring everything from cultural differences to cultural appropriation, Band Together often feels more like a promotional tool for Timberlake and N*Sync than a unique story. What complicates matters is that the script from Elizabeth Tippet (Trolls World Tour) seems to ignore all of the revelations of World Tour. At the start of that film, the world of Trolls was their village and Bergen Town, the shock being the great expansion due to learning that there are more than just these Trolls, but Trolls of a variety of styles. This was treated as a big deal, yet there’s no surprise or intrigue when (a) the gang meets the Vacaytioners who live on Vacay Island or the people of Mount Rageon and (b) how is Branch supposed to have been in not just one but two boy bands and his entire village didn’t know? These films are complete with their own set of rules, but they’ve always been consistent in their eccentricity. You want audiences to believe that the character whom the whole village thinks is the Troll Who Cried Wolf regarding the Bergens wasn’t previously known as Baby Branch in BroZone? Or someone seem to not be aware that his second band — animated stand-ins for N*Sync voiced by his former bandmates, whom Poppy immediately recognizes. These films are great with self-referential material, but it’s the lack of consistency in the lore that reduces what should be a nostalgia-driven celebration of ‘90s pop into little more than a cash grab. These films are a good time and remain so on rewatches (the films more than the television series or specials get play in my house), but, while my eldest absolutely loved it, one can’t help but notice that a film can be enjoyable and still not effective in what it seeks to do by completely ignoring or sacrificing elements of the prior stories in order tell one now. It’s an odd bit of retcon that doesn’t track. For instance, we can accept that not all the Trolls who escaped Bergen Town at the start of the first film got out or made it to the village due to the tunnel collapses and we can accept that King Peppy (voiced by returning director Walt Dohrm) kept the existence of a sister from Poppy because keeping secrets is what Peppy seems to do, but when added to all the other things that this film seems intent on re-writing for the sake of jokes or character journeys is less tropical fruit bubble-gum fun and more atomic sour patch under any scrutiny.
L-R: Ablaze (Joey Fatone), Hype (JC Chasez), Branch (Justin Timberlake), Trickee (Chris Kirkpatrick) and Boom (Lance Bass) in TROLLS BAND TOGETHER, directed by Walt Dohrn. © DreamWorks Animation LLC.
Taken for what it is, Trolls Band Together is light, fluffy family-friendly entertainment, insomuch as the kids aren’t going to get all the references to things that they’re not old enough to get (drug use and kink). The songs are well produced, the mixes are solid, and the characters are just as wild as one wants from this world. As long as you don’t look too hard or think too deeply, especially compared to the prior two films, Band Together is a delightful time, even if mostly forgettable (exception made for those with a heavy nostalgic bend for boys bands, of course). And if this sounds like you, you’re going to have a ball exploring the bonus features. But if you found yourself pleasantly surprised by the depth accompanying the prior two films, Band Together is going to leave you wanting.
Trolls Band Together Special Features:
- Feature Commentary – with Producer Gina Shay, Co-Director Tim Heitz, Head of Story Colin Jack, Production Designer Ruben Perez Reynoso and Visual Effects Supervisor Marc J. Scott (1:31:29)
- Sing-Along Version (1:31:29)
- It Takes Three (3:55)
- Three (3) Deleted Scenes – With intro by Head of Story Colin Jack (5:05)
- Fun in the Recording Booth (3:50)
- Hi, Hi, Hi (3:28)
- Six (6)-Part Building The Band (12:58)
- Together Again (2:38)
- Animating Trolls (4:23)
- Six (6) Part How To Draw (23:30)
- How To: Hug Time Bracelets (2:35)
Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD, and digital January 16th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official DreamWorks Animation Trolls Band Together webpage.
Final Score: 2.5 out of 5.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming
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