If happiness is contagious, then get ready for Trolls fever.
It's seldom a viewer can leave a theater looking forward to a Blu-ray release and next year's Halloween costume. You're gonna leave with a whole lot of sunshine in your pocket (and a little less change come Christmas).
That's something considering how slight the movie is.
But even though the plot isn't thick, neither is the audience. They know where this is going; they also know that sliding down that rainbow is so much fun. And the movie is light enough on its feet and moves briskly to the perfect length for parents with wiggly children in tow.
In the beginning, the Trolls fled their home because they were being served up -- literally -- to the ogre-like Bergens.
"No Trolls left behind," bellows King Peppy (Jeffrey Tambor) during the escape.
The Bergens believe that they could only be happy by eating the feelings of the Trolls, "the happiest creature the world has ever known."
(Maybe happy-go-lucky Synclaire of '90s sitcom Living Single was eating the trolls instead of just collecting them.)
Some of the history is told through a delightful opening sequence, and the scrapbook-like technique is deployed later in the film. (Here's hoping merchandising was savvy enough to include scrapbooking in its assortment of goodies.) The trolls' escape means just another piece of bad news for the pessimistic Bergens, and especially bad news for one.
Twenty years later, a music video breaks out.
Princess Poppy, voiced by a peppy Anna Kendrick and the catalyst for the exodus, is the happiest of the happy. She celebrates everything, and is the star of this show. Her parties are epic and often -- and eventually dangerous. The Bergens discover their new home and that's when the adventure begins.
An optimistic Poppy enlists the help of Branch, a survivalist troll with a bunker and a penchant for proclaiming pending doom from the Bergens. Unlike his rainbow-hued counterparts, he's all muted blues and grays. And, also unlike them, he was right. Justin Timberlake is perfectly resigned and sarcastic in the role.
But things happen on the rescue mission to teach each of them a lesson.
All the characters learn lessons -- and there are a lot of them.
With a cast populated by so many capital-N names, there had better be multiple story arcs: James Corden, Zooey Deschanel, Christine Baranski, Russell Brand, Gwen Stefani, John Cleese, Jeffrey Tambor, Quvenzhane Wallis, Icona Pop and on and on.
There are also a lot of chances for song, for trolls and Bergen alike. Branch, though, doesn't indulge. The filmmakers were smart and reserved the obvious singing for when it would be most effective in this film that brings the lucky toy to life. The anticipation is palpable for when JT will finally pipe up.
Perhaps the second-best thing is the subplot involving a budding romance of Bergen Prince Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). It's one happy film that can make the bloodthirsty villains of the piece lovable.
Parts of the movie may scare some younger children. The Bergen, like the pigs in The Angry Birds Movie, are trying to eat the cute little things, after all, even the glitter trolls. Glitter. Trolls. That's some nihilist stuff.
Philosophers from Aristotle to Viktor Frankl to Bobby McFerrin to Tyler Perry have been trying to teach us about happiness. With a catchy tune and a whole lot glitter, Trolls paints with broader strokes and may just break through.
The inescapable Timberlake song "Can't Stop the Feeling" is the summer hit that hasn't realized the season has changed. This movie has taken the hand-off, and is going to run with it right into the next year.
Trolls (A)
Directed by Mike Mitchell, with co-director Walt Dohrn. PG (for mild rude humor). 92 minutes. In wide release.
