Good grief Charles M. Schulz, it’s been over 60 years since the first Peanuts comic strip and it’s still managed to stay relevant. It always baffles the mind how some of these cartoons stick around and withstand the test of time. I mean who would have thought that any movie company would care to bring back Charlie Brown in 2015? Peanuts was a comic strip that was around way before I was even born, covering topics from the 60s that used to go way over my head until I was a little older. Peanuts the Movie was by no means perfect, but it does a good enough job preserving the heart and soul of the franchise while appealing to a new audience.
Making any movie like this presents a difficult challenge. How does one satisfy the nostalgia of the older generation while appealing to a newer audience? Well in all honestly, this film managed to do that well enough. The animation of the movie is clean and new enough that it doesn’t look like crap to the new generation while still having the style and physics of the old Charlie Brown cartoon. It looks great, it feels great and it would be great to see more franchises take this approach when bringing back older series’ to new audiences.
Making any movie like this presents a difficult challenge. How does one satisfy the nostalgia of the older generation while appealing to a newer audience? Well in all honestly, this film managed to do that well enough. The animation of the movie is clean and new enough that it doesn’t look like crap to the new generation while still having the style and physics of the old Charlie Brown cartoon. It looks great, it feels great and it would be great to see more franchises take this approach when bringing back older series’ to new audiences.
The voices sound like they should; at no given point did anyone sound weird and thank God. One thing I don’t particularly enjoy is seeing the same animated character in various media but hearing a different voice. The music was the same classic sound we know and love thrown in with one or two more “modern” songs some kids might identify with better. That being said, one of the stronger parts of the movie was its unwillingness to fully change with the times and become “contemporary.”
The setting, references and technology remain the same in this film as it was in the cartoons. I was afraid I was going to hear tons of new pop music, see cellphones and characters taking God damn selfies but the movie does away with all that. I figured they’d modernized the crap out of this movie, heck, I even thought they might make the parents speak. But Peanuts doesn’t give in to the times and keeps the movie in the same era it should be in.
The setting, references and technology remain the same in this film as it was in the cartoons. I was afraid I was going to hear tons of new pop music, see cellphones and characters taking God damn selfies but the movie does away with all that. I figured they’d modernized the crap out of this movie, heck, I even thought they might make the parents speak. But Peanuts doesn’t give in to the times and keeps the movie in the same era it should be in.
The plot of the movie may be a bit familiar to long time watchers of the cartoon; it emulates one of the Christmas specials where Charlie Brown decides to fly a kite in the winter while it takes a bit from the first on screen appearance of “Heather” (The Little Red-Haired-Girl). Charlie has always been a hapless, self-loathing, unlucky loser. A boy who fails at almost everything he tries to succeed in, a pessimist with a never give up attitude. He falls in love with the new girl that arrives at his school and is determined to show her a new and improved Charlie Brown. Not the down on his luck downer he really is. The subplot is with Snoopy’s imaginary adventure to save Fifi and defeat the Red Baron. A charming and fun detour from the central plot but ultimately has no actual effect on the plot.
In order to keep the movie PG, I found that a lot the comments and saying from the original cartoon didn’t make it into the movie. I mean, cartoons used to be a little more lenient. Some of the low blows the character deal to Charlie Brown are still present and often witty, but not as harsh as they used to be. Even when Snoopy is fighting the Red Baron, you don’t hear the gunshot noises from the imaginary guns; you just see the holes after. A change I could do without but I completely understand. Any super obscure reference and such other things as to not ostracize the young kids and I guess not piss off parents.
In order to keep the movie PG, I found that a lot the comments and saying from the original cartoon didn’t make it into the movie. I mean, cartoons used to be a little more lenient. Some of the low blows the character deal to Charlie Brown are still present and often witty, but not as harsh as they used to be. Even when Snoopy is fighting the Red Baron, you don’t hear the gunshot noises from the imaginary guns; you just see the holes after. A change I could do without but I completely understand. Any super obscure reference and such other things as to not ostracize the young kids and I guess not piss off parents.
The movie is pretty quirky and fun enough for kids to enough, even if they have no prior knowledge or know how about Peanuts. As a standalone it’s still a good movie, not perfect but good. The problems with the movie is that it’s primarily a Charlie Brown and Snoopy movie. We get little moments and clips of other lovable favorites such as Schroder, Lucy and Peppermint Patty but they weren’t in the movie enough. They all just offer a supporting role as a Charlie Brown hater or helper. We do get classic scenes as the football scene and Linus and Charlie leaning against the brick wall but they were just there for us older fans. Kind of like a reward for being patient with the new film.
Ultimately, Peanuts the Movie is an endearing film that bridges the gap between generations of old and new and offers a newer yet familiar take on a beloved classic. The very essence of what makes Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown is still there and I hope for more to come.
7.8/10
Ultimately, Peanuts the Movie is an endearing film that bridges the gap between generations of old and new and offers a newer yet familiar take on a beloved classic. The very essence of what makes Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown is still there and I hope for more to come.
7.8/10
RSS Feed
