"The Peanuts Movie": You're in a Great Movie, Charlie Brown!

Nowadays, when we see Hollywood make an "attempt" to make a feature film based on our favorite classic cartoon characters such as Alvin and the Chipmunks or The Smurfs, they feel the only way to make those properties relevant is to put in "modern spins" such as pop songs, modern slangs, corporate advertising, heavy use of social media and technology, toilet humor, etc. When I heard a movie was being made about the classic comic strip and beloved franchise The Peanuts, featuring characters cherished by generations such as Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, etc., I thought it would be a crime against humanity to do with the Peanuts what has been done to other nostalgic childhood properties. But finally we have filmmakers who get what the Peanuts is, and do not do anything to tarnish it or disgrace the characters created by Charles Schulz. The Peanuts Movie, follows, of course our incredibly unlucky but incredibly charming hero Charlie Brown (voiced by Noah Schnapp), as nothing lately seems to go his way and the other kids of the neighborhood seem to keep reminding him of that. That is until a new kid, The Little Red-Haired Girl (voiced by Francesca Capaldi) movies into the neighborhood and attends Charlie Brown's school. Dear old Charlie falls heads over heels for her and decides to change his act to transform from the unluckiest boy in the world to the most respected boy in the world so he can gain respect from the other Peanuts and the attention of the Little Red-Haired Girl. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown's beagle, Snoopy, goes on his own adventure to defeat his arch-nemesis, The Red Baron, and win the love of his crush, Fifi. The Peanuts Movie did its job of reminding us, me especially, why these characters are beloved while all at the same time not being too forced and telling a small and simple yet still compelling story. 



One thing this movie does right, is that they get the characters RIGHT! I do not feel like I see Hollywood's interpretation or a marketing executive's interpretation of the Peanuts, I SEE the Peanuts. That's Charlie Brown, that's Snoopy, that's Lucy, that's Linus, that's Pigpen, that's Sally, that's Schroeder, that's Peppermint Patty, that's Marcie, etc! These characters are the same as we all remember them to be! On top of that the voice acting is very good. Throughout a lot of the Peanuts TV specials and movies in the past, the voice acting quality was pretty standard and was very monotone. There was hardly anything that energetic or lively. But to be fair that is what added to the charm of the Peanuts anyways. Most of it felt like watching a play at an elementary school, but one everyone, even the kids put their all into. And that is the feeling I think we are supposed to get. The voice acting is nothing spectacular or Oscar-worthy, but its not supposed to be. It's suppose to feel warm, welcoming, and like childhood, and the kids who provided the voices were a part of that magic that felt like the Peanuts were truly back. The voices felt like it belonged to those characters, and they did not feel any different from the voices heard in past specials and movies. 



The sound of a CG-animated Peanuts movie sounds jarring and unpleasant at first, as the comics and specials were known for its simplistic and cheap 2D animation. But somehow, Blue Sky Animation Studios, has found a way to make this style work fit with the Peanuts. It's still CG but somehow feels like 2D. Maybe its because we can still see those thick pencil drawn lines that outline the shape of the characters. Also the way these characters move is very much like 2D animation. But there are some scenes in which the CG is used to full effect, but it is fairly used as it gives the Peanuts that grand cinematic spin. The use of the animation is especially impressive during the Snoopy versus The Red Baron scenes.

Like I said before, the story is very simple, yet compelling. Charlie Brown's goal to be a more respected person and to win the affection of The Little Red-Haired Girl. The movie really makes you feel for the kid as he constantly stumbles while trying to do all these worthy efforts. Charlie Brown comes across as what he is supposed to be, a good boy trying to do the right thing but failing miserably. And this story celebrates every thing positive and negative about Charlie Brown. Also every interaction Charlie Brown has with the other Peanuts, and the events he takes a part of that are reminiscent of events in past specials, do serve the story instead of feeling forced. We also get a subplot with Snoopy and his dogfights with the Red Baron. The way they parallel this story with the main Charlie Brown story is just genius, which makes these Red Baron scenes worthy to sit through. These Snoopy scenes that are first meant to be silly and fun, also turn out to be very engaging as well. It actually feels like watching an action movie at times, well for families, so of course its tamed. A lot of the Snoopy scenes are very hilarious as well. Again, without it feeling very forced, this movie reminds us why we like characters such as Snoopy. Snoopy is just as funny, witty, and mischievous as he always was and will be. The story tells a cinematic worthy narrative while at the same time reminded me why I love Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang so much! 



The Peanuts Movie never needed to be too modern, ambitious, or edgy, or dark, or epic, or even dramatic. All it need it to do is to tell a story that is about and fits with the Peanuts. And you know what it did a great job at that. Sometimes we need something warm, welcoming, a little nostalgic, simple, you know like childhood. And that's what the Peanuts always meant to me, it reminded me of childhood. To thing like playing outside with your friends or treating a small issue like a crucial life or death situation, is all things that happen throughout all of our childhoods. Another reason this movie reminded me why I love this franchise so much is because I honestly feel I relate a lot to Charlie Brown. I was always a clumsy, naive, and reluctant kid who constantly messed up when I was growing up, but I can look to Charlie Brown as an inspiration because even though he has a lot of faults, he always tries to see the bright side and strive through his obstacles. The movie and the beautiful heartfelt message reminded me of that. Because I felt that this movie represented the Peanuts well, even though it did not need to be ambitious, it just as equal to going above and beyond. No need to say "good grief" by the end of this flick because well YOU DID GREAT, CHARLIE BROWN! 

GRADE: AE