Trolls is sugary sweet, colorful fun for all ages

Movie Title:   Trolls

Grade:   A

Rating:  PG, 100 minutes

In a Nutshell:    This sugary sweet DreamWorks movie is like watching a bag of colorful Skittles sing and dance and hug for an hour and a half.  What’s not to like?  

The trolls are way cuter than those dolls that were around when I was a kid.  I mean, one troll poops cupcakes and another one farts glitter.  Totes adorbs.

As the trailer says, this is a “musical adventure that proves one voice can change the world.”  It’s a happy journey, perfect for all ages.  If you’re a cynical adult who hasn’t had children, this movie could be torture for you.

Uplifting theme:  

• Find your happy place.
• “Happiness is inside all of us.  Sometimes you just need someone to help you find it.” – Branch
• “Happiness isn’t something you put inside.  It’s already there.” – Princess Poppy
• “There’s always a bright side.” – Princess Poppy
• Friendship, unity, teamwork, togetherness.  We need each other.

Things I liked:

• This fun flick is filled with toe-tapping music.  There are a lot of familiar songs you can sing along to, as well as some new ones you’ll instantly like.  Some of them have great messages for your kids, like, “I’m not giving up today.  I will get back up again” sung by Anna Kendrick.  The trolls rescue the music and the music rescues them.  Speaking of combining music with animation in the film, Anna Kendrick said in an interview with Regal Theaters, “It just feels like they belong together.”  Anna is precious as Princess Poppy.
• Super colorful.  Even the color combinations are happy.  They use the lack of color to illustrate attitudes and states of mind as well.  It's simple symbolism that children can understand, but it works effectively.
• Cliché’d dance number at the end, but still fun and definitely appropriate for this story.  You'll leave the theater in a good mood.
• I know fanny packs are super dorky, but they sure are practical, right?  I thought it was hilarious that Chef Bergen wore one.  Speaking of Chef, I love Christine Baranski in everything she does.
• I liked that there was a little character named Cooper (played by Ron Runches), because it's my son’s name.  There was a "Jar Jar Binks" aspect about Cooper that was a little annoying, however.
• The animation is really good.  I’ve never seen felt, yarn, glitter, and fabric done so well before!  You really feel like you can reach out and touch them.
• Funny, fat crow.
• If you wondered why Zooey Deschanel was missing for weeks from her starring role in the TV show “New Girl”, you’ll be happy to hear her sing and voice Bridget, the scullery maid.
• Justin Timberlake’s voice is a welcome addition to the animated world.
• Once this movie hits the DVD market (March 2017), parents won’t mind this playing on the TV a hundred times a day.  Well, for a little while at least.
• Scrapbooking! 

  

Things I didn’t like:

• Merchandising for this film seems blatantly obvious, yet even the strongest objectors will probably secretly want to buy one of these adorable trolls.  The whole idea of merchandising these products is ironic, considering the theme of this movie is that you can’t consume happiness.  Ha ha
• The cast is absolutely fantastic.  It’s a shame that so many talented actors only get a short amount of screen/voice time compared to the main leads.  The list includes Gwen Stefani, James Corden, John Cleese, Jeffrey Tambor, Russell Brand, Kunal Nayyar, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
• Not all of the humor works.
• The movie poster could have been way cuter.
• The plot is extremely simple.  Just enjoy the musical ride.

Happy lines:

• “Hug time is all the time.” – Poppy
• “I know life’s not all cupcakes and rainbows, but I’d rather go through life thinking it mostly is.” – Poppy

Funny lines:

• “Solid burn, Branch.” – Poppy
• “Why don’t you scrapbook them to freedom?” – Branch
• “I don’t like the looks of him.  I mean, who wears socks without shoes?” – Branch
• "It has everything we need: fresh air and sweet acoustics!" - King Peppy

Tips for parents:

• Other than the troll who farts cupcakes, there is nothing objectionable about this movie.  Well, you see the rear end of one of the trolls.  ha ha
• No profanity, although one troll says "OMG."
• The monsters are called Bergens, but they’re not super scary.  Young children should be able to watch this movie without getting frightened.
• Talk to your children about what makes them happy and how they can help each other to find joy in everyday life.

Let the merchandising begin!

 

Step Up All In: A for dope dance, D for dopey plot

Movie Title:  Step Up All In

PG-13, 1 hour 52 minutes

PG Grade:  A for dancing, D for plot

In a Nutshell:  The Step Up franchise always brings it when it comes to amazing dancing.  This 5th installment’s story line isn’t new or fresh, but the dancing is.  Who watches these movies for the plot anyway? 

The cast is a veritable“Who’s Who” from the popular TV show “Dancing With the Stars.”  (I’ve never missed an episode.)   The sets are bigger and the finale competition is terrific.

Uplifting theme:  Forgiveness.

Things I liked:

• Alexxa Brava (Izabella Miko) is stunning in all of her exotic costumes.  Check out her shoes and jewelry in all of her scenes.  Even her microphone is "bedazzled."  Did you know she is a ballerina from Poland?  Her legs are amazing.
• I can’t even begin to list the dope dance moves by the various dancers.  (Don’t I sound so hip and cool when I use the word “dope” in my blog?  Two of my sons are B-Boys, so that makes me cool by relation.)
• There were a lot of solos, which was kind of nice to see some of our favorites really shine in the spotlight.
• I saw it in 3D, which was fun, but not necessary for this movie.
• I can picture the dance numbers from this movie being turned into a Vegas show.

Things I didn’t like:

• Great dancing, but terrible acting.
• Nasty dance moves.
• Did you miss Channing Tatum?  Me too just a little bit... 
• As far as role models go, some of these characters are far from it.  The lead female dancer,  Andie West (played by the raspy Briana Evigan), makes a mess at her place of work and when the owner sees what she has done, she tells Andie to clean it up or get fired. Andie flippantly says "Clean it up yourself!" and storms out.  What a jerk.  The character, Monster (played by Luis Rosado), walks out in the middle of his job as well.  Yeah, I really want my kids to take responsibility like THAT.

Did you notice?

• Did you catch choreographer/producer/director Adam Shankman’s cameo as a carnival ride operator in Las Vegas when Sean and Andie go out for a walk at night?
• This feels like a big commercial for Caesar’s Palace, as well as for the Las Vegas Tourism office.  By the way, there are scenes taken at “The Fremont Street Experience” which is actually NOT on the Strip, but several miles away.
• Did you know that Ryan Guzman (Sean) has two dance doubles?  Isn’t that cheating?
• So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Christopher Scott looks so young that he is cast as one of the young guns in the dance crew LMNTRIX.
• I thought Andie's shirt with the black bathing suit top and the white strips in the back was super cute.  (The one she wears in the basement of Caesar's Palace when they're practicing before the competition.)  Briana Evigan is built solid as a rock.

Funny lines:

• Sean:  “Let me try this thing I’ve been imagining in my head.”

Andie: “That better be the dancing you’re talking about.”

• Jasper: “How come postickers taste so much better in Vegas?”

Jenny: “Because they’re eggrolls.”

• “So it begins…the drama, the passion, the Vortex.”  - Alexxa 
• "I have been known to get pretty crunk."  - Marcos 
• Jason (We know him as “Twitch”): “This is your new crew?”

Sean:  “Well, they ain’t my book club.”

Tips for parents:    You’ll see a lot of skin, especially Briana Evignan’s, who plays Andie West.  There is some great dancing, but also a lot of “dirty” dancing and crude moves.  Surprisingly, there is not much profanity.

If you missed the first Step Up movies, you can catch up on them with these: