A corporate cash grab that lacks the soul of the original (Picture: Universal Pictures)

I still have a soft spot for Trolls (2016). A jolly, rainbow-coloured family animation wherein perma-perky Princess Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick) and her endearingly grumpy love interest Branch (Justin Timberlake) set out to save their village from Troll-guzzling giants called Bergens to jukebox musical numbers.

It boasted humour, heart, cute, felt-tastic visuals and an Oscar-nominated hit song, Can’t Stop The Feeling. Basically, it was like getting a warm and fuzzy hug.

Trolls Band Together is more like a punch in the face.

A garish package of corporate ‘content’ – you can’t really grace this with the word ‘movie’ – it’s truly, physically painful to watch.

The script incoherently smushes together two different storylines. Just as Prince Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) is about to say ‘I do’ to his fiancée Bridget (Zooey Deschanel) their nuptials are rudely interrupted. Enter Branch’s long-lost brother (Eric André), who reveals that Branch was once part of a boyband called BroZone, which acrimoniously disbanded when Branch was still a baby.

Now the bros must reunite to save ‘the sensitive one’ (Troye Sivan), who has been kidnapped by a villainous, fame-seeking pop duo (Amy Schumer and Andrew Rannells).

Aimed to appeal to parents who grew up on 1990s boybands, it features NSYNC’s first original song in 22 years. So, that’s a plus for some, right?

Another positive is the animation, which lights up with creative references to 1930s Disney cartoons as well as some trippy and fun 2D Yellow Submarine sequences.

The storytelling, however, is depressingly poor. So poor, in fact, that it’s heckled by its own characters. ‘So, whose long-lost sibling is this one?’ eye-rolls one as yet another estranged family member appears to, implausibly, come to light.

Not even an all-star cast can save this painful watch (Picture: Universal Pictures)

Jeopardy is as thin on the ground as relatable family dynamics. Honestly, AI could’ve written a better movie – it certainly would’ve had more soul.

‘I hope we make, like, seven Trolls movies, because it literally is the gift that keeps on giving,’ declared (star and exec) Justin Timberlake back in 2020. Yeah, a gift to your bank balance, Justin. Otherwise, it’s just empty calories. The kids deserve better.

Out now in cinemas.

MORE : Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget might be the film that finally turns everyone vegan

MORE : Netflix’s new Oscar hopeful is about a woman who dared to dream. So why is it so controversial?

It features NSYNC’s first original song in 22 years. So, that’s a plus for some, right?