Trollz: Best Friends for Life—The Movie

Attempting to tap into the Bratz and MyScene craze, this animated program revives the Trollz toys, updating the little wacky-haired, belly-jeweled creatures with tight clothes, neat space-age-like scooters, instant messaging, and “spell phones.” The Best Friends for Life quintet consists of Ruby (the bossy one), Topaz (the dumb one), Sapphire (the smart one), Onyx (the gothish one) and Amethyst, the naïve main character here who's just got her “glow” (i.e., ability to use her magical belly jewel for casting spells) and is worried she no longer fits in with her friends after summer vacation. After a series of events leads to a break-up and then a make-up for the BFFL gang, Amethyst relates her experiences to her digital memory book, wondering what else is in store for her. At this point, the supposed “movie” ventures into obvious not-picked-up-for-a-series territory, with two other adventures that find the BFFLs combining their skills for the “Power of Five” (resulting in “kick-butt spells” and awakening an ancient evil in the woods), and later, screwing up the first day of school (getting lost, being bullied by older trollz, etc.). With its bright colors, giggly storylines, and superficial grrrl power pals soundtrack, this is admittedly Saturday morning cartoon fodder, though sure to appeal to the ‘tween set. DVD extras include a personality quiz, music videos, and a DVD-ROM accessible “personal memory book.” Recommended. [Note: Trollz: Magic of the Five—The Movie is also newly available.] Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)