DEPENDING on your personal preferences, the release of a third Trolls film this week will either have you reaching for the nearest microphone or a pair of gum drop ear plugs. Either way, you’ll be hard pressed to avoid a head to toe dowsing in glitter. Who’s for hug time?!

Trolls: Band Together is the first in the series to hit cinemas since the original. You may remember that Trolls: World Tour had its wide release stymied by the Covid-19 pandemic. Back in 2020, the sequel was among the first major releases to debut as pay per view streaming. It was that and Scooby-Doo. Times were tough.

Inspired by those awful Danish gonk dolls that once haunted every child’s play box, the Trolls films have found great success in the delivery of relentless positivity on a bright and colourful big screen. Never ending pop bangers can be a bit of a headache for grownups but kids love it.

No Troll better epitomises this than Poppy, the Anna Kendrick voiced Queen of the Pop Trolls. Having officially hooked up with Justin Timberlake’s Branch last time around, Poppy could hardly be happier as the film opens. It’s the kind of self-satisfaction that can only come with saving your people from ritualistic murder, inheriting your father’s crown and uniting all genres of music across the Trolldom.

That’s before she learns of Branch’s secret past, of course. As it transpires, Branch was once part of Poppy’s favourite boyband, BroZone, along with his four brothers: Floyd, John Dory, Spruce and Clay. BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby, as did the family, and Branch hasn't seen his brothers since.

When Floyd is kidnapped by the nefarious pop star villains Velvet and Veneer, Branch and Poppy must join John Dory in a quest to reunite the band and save Floyd from a fate worse than pop-culture obscurity.

Bolstered by the big return to cinemas, Band Together boasts the Trolls’ starriest cast yet. There are parts for pop royalty Camila Cabello, Tony winner Daveed Diggs, comedian Amy Schumer, drag icon RuPaul and too many more to name. Zooey Deschanel and Christopher Mintz-Plasse return as Troll-crossed lovers Bridget and Gristle Jr. too, with the promise of wedding bells and a Troll-tastic after party.

The film is another sure-fire hit for DreamWorks. Be sure the Trolls will be back.