Trolls 3: A Mind-Blowing NSYNC Spectacle

Every adult reaches a point in their life when they have to watch a children's movie, regardless of whether they enjoy it or not. With Trolls 3, it becomes evident that the franchise continues to be the ultimate choice for cheerful headaches.

As time goes by, most people lose their patience towards individuals who remain excessively happy throughout the day. This perfectly describes the film's main female character, Poppy (played by Anna Kendrick), who speaks at a rapid pace, even though her small legs struggle to keep up. During her rare moments of silence, Trolls 3 is filled with nostalgic pop music that has been sped up, reminiscent of the popular TikTok filter. In summary, there is little downtime in this movie.

For even the most experienced moviegoers, the overall vibe of Trolls 3 can be quite overwhelming. Instead of settling in for the comforting relaxation of traditional animated films, this third installment feels more like a challenging, head-down, push-through kind of experience. It's comparable to being stuck in a chaotic indoor playground with your kids, unable to leave because of a classmate's birthday party.

This may sound harsh, but there are some positive aspects to Trolls 3. The film not only allows the audience to relive the nostalgic magic of 90s pop, but it also reignites an appreciation for boybands. Bringing together *NSYNC and actor Justin Timberlake, who voices Branch, the film presents a genuinely great song called 'Better Place'. These small victories can be cherished by those who manage to endure the chaos.

A parental headache set to music

In Trolls 3, there is a surprising revelation about Branch's family. He actually has enough brothers to form a complete boyband, something that was not previously known in the first two films. In their shared childhood, these brothers work together in an attempt to achieve the ideal family harmony. Several years later, adult Branch is reluctantly brought back together with his long-lost siblings. The reason behind their reunion is the unfortunate hostage situation involving his favorite brother Floyd, who is being held captive in a diamond bottle by the unkind pop sensations Velvet and Veneer. In order to hide their own lack of talent, Velvet and Veneer use Floyd's abilities. To rescue their ailing sibling, the BroZone boys, including Poppy, reunite and reform their band.

The 91-minute runtime of Trolls 3 can be best described as "loud." The soundtrack is deafeningly blasted throughout, accompanied by a fast-paced, exuberant, and colorful visual display. However, this rapid pace leaves little room for deep thoughts and can make watching the movie feel like a tedious chore, especially for those over the age of seven. It's a constant race, hoping to make it through with your eardrums and mental faculties intact.

Despite this, the film's voice cast seems to be enjoying themselves more than the audience. Anna Kendrick portrays her cartoon self with great authenticity, while Justin Timberlake brings a sense of cool and collectedness to the table. The vocals in Trolls 3 are undeniably impressive, with notable contributions from Troye Sivan and even a fitting cameo from RuPaul for fans of Drag Race.

For 90s kids, *NSYNC still reigns supreme

Audiences are eagerly anticipating Trolls 3 for the possibility of an *NSYNC reunion, which is what the film excels at. With the creation of BroZone and the inclusion of a real-life boyband cameo, 90s pop music makes a triumphant return. The smooth harmonies and melodic tones of both bands effortlessly transport audiences back to their teenage fangirl days, providing a guilty pleasure without any associated shame. Despite the changing public opinion of Timberlake over the past 25 years, he continues to prove his ability to produce chart-topping hits.

However, the rest of Trolls 3 falls somewhere between overwhelmingly chaotic and mundane. Throughout their journey, both Branch and Poppy discover important lessons about themselves that they proceed to pass on to others they encounter. While this sentiment is touching, it is not original and has been done better countless times before.

Trolls 3 review score: 2/5

For those going to see Trolls 3 with excitable children, brace yourselves – and maybe bring earplugs.

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While it's not the absolute worst children's film out there, it falls quite short of being the best. Additionally, relying solely on an *NSYNC reunion can only take it so far.

Mark your calendars, as Trolls 3 will be hitting UK cinemas on October 20, followed by its release in US theaters on November 17. For more information on our future film coverage, please see below.

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