These trolls are much nicer than the online kind

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The cast of characters in the 3-D animated “Trolls’’ (DreamWorks Animation)

By Tom Russo

Globe Correspondent

Movie REview

★★★

TROLLS

Directed by Mike Mitchell, Walt Dohrn. Written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Erica Rivinoja. Starring Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Baranski. At Boston Common, Fenway, suburbs. 92 minutes. PG (mild rude humor).

Good luck keeping up with the parade of familiar names who signed on to play fluffy-haired, 3-D animated toy box and cubicle tchotchkes in DreamWorks Animation’s’ “Trolls.’’ Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake have been getting the big marketing push, but the lineup also includes Russell Brand, James Corden, Gwen Stefani . . . the list goes on.

Keep scrolling through, and you’ll come to Kunal Nayyar (“The Big Bang Theory’’), who gets the most richly metaphorical role as peripheral imp Guy Diamond. Silvery, shimmering Guy eagerly blasts glitter on whatever could use a dash, from party invitations to party poopers. His handiwork can take something cute but forgettable and render it instantly, colorfully fabulous — much like the trick the animators manage.

Energetic and vibrant, “Trolls’’ is hardly the throwback grown-ups might expect to the bad old days of cartoons conceived as toy ads rather than entertainment. And if the project sounds cribbed from the “Lego Movie’’ playbook — beloved Scandinavian playthings mined for multiplex fare — you’ll forgive the effervescent result.

The cast definitely does its part to help give the film its bounce. Kendrick’s personality is tangible in fun-loving Princess Poppy, who’s not one to fret that noisy Troll merriment could reveal the little guys’ longtime hiding place to their hulking ogre nemeses, the Bergens. Kendrick’s movie-musical pipes also come through loud and clear in all this — one of several terrific calls made for the soundtrack, which has plenty going on besides Timberlake’s ubiquitously streamed pop-soul confection “Can’t Stop the Feeling!’’ (How about Simon & Garfunkel and Gorillaz as sampling picks?) Timberlake actually keeps it down for a considerable stretch as Branch, a mirthless, color-desaturated Troll who’s constantly warning the others that they’re going to wind up as Bergen snacks.

Sure enough, the ogres’ witchy royal chef (Christine Baranski) finally nabs a few sprites, tossing them in a pot as the cure for what ails melancholy Prince Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and his equally mopey subjects. Poppy and Branch’s ensuing rescue mission might be boilerplate plotting, but again, the rainbow aesthetic and musical tone are infectious — particularly a Cyndi Lauper cover sequence that magically lifts the story at a point when it’s dragging.

A Cinderella subplot involving the prince’s scullery maid (Zooey Deschanel) is similarly both familiar and tonally refreshing, from the whimsical vocals to the disco skate that subs for a glass slipper. If only the “Pitch Perfect’’ franchise could see its way to casting Deschanel alongside Kendrick. Until then, we’re good with our sparkly Guy Diamond jubilee.

★★★ TROLLS

Tom Russo can be reached at trusso2222@gmail.com.