A Troll in Central Park (1994)

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

I honestly don't get why so many people hate this film. Sure it has its flaws, but overall it's still a very enjoyable movie with great animation, musical score, voice acting and presentation. I found myself sympathizing with Stanley (Dom DeLuise) as he is banished from the Troll Kingdom into New York City and later pursued by Queen Gnorga who wants him turned to stone.The songs are beautiful, especially Absolutely Green. All the voice actors and actresses did an excellent job. The animation is very smooth and well-done. As a child this was one of my favorite, if not my favorite animated film. When I was young the scene when Stanley is turned to stone drove me to tears. I found myself cheering when he comes back to life.However, the film does have its flaws. For example quite a bit of it consists of filler scenes such as flowers dancing and Stanley showing the children Gus and Rosie his magical dream boat. And the ending, after Stanley is revived, goes a bit overboard with him literally covering the entire city in vegetation. But unlike others, I wasn't too bothered by these flaws.Overall, I found A Troll in Central Park to be a lovable, entertaining children's film. As a child at heart I still love this movie and rate it 9/10. It's a shame we'll likely never see a sequel because I would have loved to see Stanley come back.

A Troll in Central Park also known as Stanley's Magic Garden is one of those film, that I watch as a child and really didn't like it, then. Re-watching it as an adult, I know the reasons why. I think the movie was unintelligent, too cutesy pandering, and just not what I wanted from a Don Bluth film. The reasons why 1982's The Secret of NIMH, 1988's Land Before Time, and 1986's American Tail; works, is because it had a complex story with depth that makes it watchable for both adults and children. There was action, comedy, and great animation. Here, it's lacking. Honestly, any kid 6 or up, will think of this movie, as baby drool. If the movie target audience was toddlers, sure it was success, but if the target audience was kids like myself, at the time, it sure was a failure. The movie is about Stanley (Voiced by Dom DeLuise) whom been exile from the Kingdom of Trolls by Queen Gnorga (Voiced by Cloris Leachman) & King Llort (Voiced by Charles Nelson Reilly). The reason for this, was to stop him from producing plant life with his green thumb. Don't know why, they're against it since they need it to breath, but go with it. I have to say, I do love Queen Gnorga opening song 'Queen of Mean', you truly get why trolls like upsetting people. Anyways, Gnorga banishes Stanley to New York City where, they believe has no plant life. Not knowing of them, Stanley finds himself in Central Park where two children named Gus and Rosie (Voiced by Phillip Glasser and Tawny Sunshine Glover) help him find his happy place. Unhappy by these recent results, and determined to suppress Stanley, Queen Gnorga travels to Central Park, herself, to have a face to face showdown with the Green Environment and his new-found friends. While the movie indeed insulting to child intelligence. It somewhat told a good undermine environment message. Yes, cutting trees are bad, and planting trees are good. Ironic, ain't it? That the movie waste so much paper to animated this film, to bring a message of saving trees. The movie tells it, so awful. Having evil trolls with no redeeming elements rather than realistic human characters wanted to destroy trees, doesn't help save the environment. I tell you why! When you make your characters less human, you suck out the humanity, meaning people are less likely to see what they could become. Honestly, the 1972's movie, 'The Lorax' told this story, better. This film need to be a cautionary tale of when someone, anyone, takes too much without realizing it. 'Absolutely Green' is a really positively song about being gentleness, empathy and living up to your dreams. Still, believing and doing something about it, are too different things. The movie wants you to dream for a better world, but the film doesn't give you, any tools or life lessons to make that happen. The movie kinda underhand the song message, by having Stanley go as low as Gnorga, by doing violent acts toward her. Yes, have the courage to fight what you believe, but turning her into a bush, and the whole NYC green is just malicious. There is reasons why we're don't live in the Forrest and Jungles, like our ancestors, because being surround by certain wildlife is dangerous. Yes, the movie is trying to be innocent, here, but honestly, who in their right mind, think that New York City is better off a Jungle, has to be crazy! I have to say, Stanley is an alright character. I know a lot of people hate him, due to his over optimist attitude. Perhaps because it contradicts what many people believe, is right. I do agree ignoring the harsh real movie for a make-believe world is pretty sad. The character can seem disrespectful and even indifferent to the challenges faced by many people to the point, it felt like a slap to the face. People want a realistic truth and mood in their fantasy. Stanley reminds me of a long-time marijuana smoker who trips out how the world should be, but has nothing really to show of it. Indeed, Stanley is surprising a stoner. The entire film could an allegory about the dangers of conformity. Remind me to Plato's Cave Allegory, a bit with the character arch of Stanley. Anyways, most of the voice acting is pretty good. The kids are bit annoying. I really can't stand Gus, he was a bit too fussy. No character arch as the kid doesn't learn how respectable, his dad had to work to provide food and shelter for him. He's still a bit self-egoism in the end of the film. The pacing is not that good. The movie partake in several minutes of undeluded filler. Lot of plot-holes and puzzling questions throughout this movie. Some examples are a four-year-old and his baby sister walk around the crowded streets of New York, unattended, and nobody notices or thinks this is suspect? Another one is how the trolls are aware of New York and know where it is? Indeed, one of reason for this film failing in the box office was because the film was released without any sign of promotion and its release was limited. The distributor Warner Bros. did not have any confidence in the film. That really tells you what they think of the film. The movie is a form of cinematic torture for adults and keep children in permanently infantilized. The movie isn't that bad. The animation is colorful, and well done. It's a notch better than those cheaply produced animated features that are released in straight to video releases. Overall: Troll in the Big Rotten Apple is a very bad troll as it lacks humor, conflict, and sense. Don Bluth had to be trolling when making this movie.

That is exactly what this movie is about: pointless randomness!!! If there is somebody who mixed together random ideas with a blender, that is exactly how this movie got made. There's this one troll who sang "I'm a bad troll" to the tune to "Eh, Uchnem" from "the Volga Boatmen". Was that even suppose to be a song? Yeah, compared that freaking song to the god-awful musical numbers from "Tom and Jerry the Movie"! And speaking of god-awful musical numbers, none of the songs were original or creative. What have you done, Don Bluth? What have you done?! You were the guy who created timeless masterpieces such as Dragon's Lair, Space Ace, and the Small One and then you have to make this random piece of crap. And take a good look at the main character, Stanley. That pea-brained pussy is the worst protagonist I have ever seen. And one scene even rips-off the classic light-saber fight between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader from "Star Wars V"(Except the fact that Stanley doesn't get his hand chopped off). If you want a movie filled with pointless randomness, this movie is the one for you. However, if you don't like pointless randomness, avoid this moronic nightmare at all costs.

Don Bluth has had his share of ups and downs in his long career. But this piece of dreck marks the only time he has truly hit rock bottom.I hesitate to use the word "movie" to describe this bomb because this is not really a film. It is a lame idea loosely tied together with bad songs and some of the most saccharine padding and filler you will ever see in you're life.The title character is played by Dom DeLuise (a good actor) and he does what he can with the role but this character is hopeless. He's one dimensional, annoying and just plain bland. The film's worst performance is a tie between Cloris Leachman and Charles Nelson Reilly who play the monarchs of the Kingdom of Trolls. Not only do they seem to grunt their lines, but they talk over each other! I mean, come on! Why make a movie where you can barely understand or hear what the characters are saying? The rest of the cast is pretty disposable. I personally think Jonathan Pryce should have played King Llort but that's just me.But it's not all bad. Some of the songs are OK, DeLuise does what he can and the animation is typical Bluth: lush and beautiful.But in the cold light of day, this dreck is simply an insult to the art of animation.