The Peanuts Movie: Movie Review

Like so many others, I grew up with Charles Schulz’s “The Peanuts”. I fondly remember “The Great Pumpkin Patch” and “Snoopy Come Home”, though it has been nearly three decades since I have watched them. It was only a matter of time before Charlie Brown and the gang made it to the big screen and given the modern computer animation update. I am actually kind of surprised it took as long as it did to happen. I just wish the project was handed to a director with more experience directing “good” animated films, as I was not of fan of Steve Martino’s “Ice Age: Continental Drift” or “Horton Hears a Who!”.

Let me first say the animation style used in the big screen adaptation of “The Peanuts” is fantastic. The team was able to honor the originals hand drawn cartoons while making it look fresh and new. The Snoopy air dog-fight sequences are marvelous, especially in 3D. Another positive aspect is that all the voice actors are relative newcomers with no big names to distract us. Noah Schnapp does a great job voicing Charlie Brown, same goes for Hadley Belle Miller as Lucy, Alexander Garfin as Linus, and Venus Schultheis as Peppermint Patty.

The story in “The Peanuts” is pretty simple, which is rare in animated films these days. Charlie Brown falls in love with the Little Red-Haired Girl (voiced by Francesca Capaldi) that has just moved in across the street and he is determined to have her notice him. Since he can’t muster up the courage to talk to her. His faithful dog, Snoopy helps him out. Snoopy also has his own mission which involves writing a story about love and adventure.

I was very much looking forward to “The Peanuts”, but by the time the film reached the mid-way point, I was finding myself very underwhelmed. Sure the animation and voices are spot-on, but everything else feels flat. It’s not very funny, and I found myself quite bored during large chunks. Although “The Peanuts” heart is in the right place, I am not sure if kids today will find it relatable. Charles Schulz was the heart and soul of “The Peanuts” and with him passing, his son Craig and grandson Bryan took over. Although I think it’s great that the torch was passed down through the family, their Grandfather is definitely missed.

By: Marc Ferman