'Trolls Band Together' review: Boy band-themed three-quel is fun, no strings attached

The third "Trolls" film, "Trolls Band Together," seems to have been reverse engineered to get *NSYNC back together and really, there are worse ways to spend studio capital and animators' talents.

This is a frothy, frivolous and just fine film for kiddos, and a decent enough introduction point into the world of boy bands and their inner workings. It also features interpolations of songs by Sister Sledge, Weezer, Shaggy, New Edition, New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, the Bee Gees and yes, *NSYNC, who contribute "Better Place," their first new song in 20 years, to the soundtrack. It could be worse, and oftentimes these types of things are.

Justin Timberlake returns as Branch, who suddenly has a backstory as the fifth member of BroZone, a wildly popular troll boy band he was in 20 years ago with his brothers. (He was "Bitty B," the baby of the group, literally in diapers when they were all the rage.) The group split up for the usual reasons — ego, fame, etc. — and the brothers have since gone their separate ways. (Honest question: Was there any mention of Branch's four brothers in the previous two "Trolls" entries?)

But now one of Branch's brothers has been kidnapped, his talent mined by a pair of soulless, vapid pop star wannabes, Velvet and Veneer (voiced by Amy Schumer and Andrew Rannells). It's up to BroZone to put aside their differences and come together to rescue their brother, who is trapped inside a diamond (?) and can only be freed by the singing of the perfect family harmony? Sure, whatever, sounds good.

Anna Kendrick is back as the voice of Poppy, Branch's sidekick, but she doesn't have as much to do this time around as Timberlake's character takes center stage. "Trolls Band Together" has some fun with JT's past (references to frosted tips and denim tuxedos) and contains a decent joke about modern pop fame (Velvet and Veneer are set to be honored for a lifetime achievement award after being a group for two months), and the whole thing zips by in a whoosh of colors and pop hooks.

It's not rocket science, but neither is pop music, and "Trolls Band Together" goes down like an airy radio hit. It's catchy, it's cute enough, and if you forget it 10 seconds after it's over, that's all by design.

agraham@detroitnews.com

'Trolls Band Together'

GRADE: B-

Rated PG: for some mild rude and suggestive humor

Running time: 91 minutes

In theaters