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Snoopy embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their arch-nemesis, while his best pal Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest back home.
If you’re old enough to remember when Transformers were the hot new toys for Christmas – the first time, understand why we “dial” a phone, and still use refer to “taping” a show on TV that you want to watch later, then much like myself you are in the age range that remembers laying on the living room rug every Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas for the Charlie Brown specials. They were sponsored by Dolly Madison snack cakes, and if you were lucky, your mom let you eat in front of the TV that night! This is the nostalgia I entered the theater with earlier this week when I took my three daughters to see “The Peanuts Movie.”
The look of the new film is contemporary, but the message remains timeless. Well aware that he was dealing with precious cargo, director Steve Martino and screenwriters Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz and Cornelious Uliano have brought the peanuts gang into the 21st century without betraying the crucial nostalgic element. The newest 3D technology and computer animation software was used when creating our favorite bald-headed hero and company. I was a little apprehensive about this at first, afraid that too much effort would be placed into 3D effects. Thankfully not so. In fact, I have nothing but high praises for the use of both technologies. Getting a chance to “fly” with Snoopy against the Red Baron, and having Charlie Brown’s kite come to life made for extremely happy movie moments!
This is the first feature film based on the characters in 35 years. It’s release will commemorate the 65 years of the comic strip, and the 50th anniversary of the TV movie “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Thankfully, along with a brilliant and true to character storyline, the music was given just as much care. In October 2014 it was revealed that Christopher Beck would score the film. Beck stated, “With the Peanuts movies, I grew up on those specials from the ’60s and ’70s, that re-run to this day. I’m very fond of all that Vince Guaraldi music, so what we did was try to find spots in the film where we could sort of touch down and remind people who were watching the film that it’s still a Peanuts movie, and there’s still a place for that music in the film. There’s a bunch of spots where we quote the Guaraldi music, or we actually re-record his pieces suite faithfully.”
The plot takes us in two directions. Snoopy fighting his arch nemesis The Red Baron, and Charlie Brown trying to better himself so the Little Red Headed Girl will like him. Through all of his attempts to “better himself”, Charlie Brown’s true nature shines through. Nothing can change the good-hearted, caring, empathetic, thoughtful person that he is. And Snoopy? Snoopy’s wild imagination and loyalty keep everyone wishing they had a dog just like him.
The writers made sure to include all of our favorite Peanuts moments like Snoopy grabbing Linus’ blanket and dragging it and Linus all over the place, Lucy at her therapist’s stand, Charlie Brown trying to fly a kite, Snoopy trying to sneak into school and Schroder’s love of Beethoven. Along with these classic moments, we also get to see Charlie Brown try and better himself. He learns to dance, perform a magic show routine and tackle an enormous reading project – all in hopes that The Little Red Headed Girl will notice him.
My only criticisms of the movie is that perhaps there are a few too many fantasy sequences with Snoopy, and too much screen time for The Little Red Headed Girl. In the comic strip she is never drawn in the panel. Also that Peppermint Patty refers to Snoopy as a dog, instead of the kid with a big nose that she has always referred to him as in every comic strip and Peanuts special.
I truly believe Charles Schulz would be proud of “his kids” making it up onto the big screen. The movie is a testament to Charlie Brown’s place in pop culture, and a springboard for a new generation to fall in love with him.
In theaters November 6th
