The Peanuts Movie-2015

Director Steve Martino

Starring Noah Schnapp

Scott’s Review #304

Reviewed December 20, 2015

Grade: B-

Having adored the Peanuts comic strips in the “funnies” papers every Sunday as a wee child, and the wonderful classic A Charlie Brown Christmas special (1965) that aired every holiday season, I was eager to see a full-length film in theaters.

The Peanuts Movie commemorates the Christmas special’s fiftieth anniversary.  The Peanuts gang is so All-American and ingrained in our culture that I could not resist seeing it.

I expected “cute,” and that is exactly what I received. The film is nice but quite safe and predictable.

The Peanuts gang is much more than just the antics of Charlie Brown and his faithful dog Snoopy, who take center stage in the film.

The entire beloved gang is featured. Woodstock, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Linus, Lucy, Frieda, Pig-Pen, and others, albeit in supporting roles.

The film features two main stories.

The long-suffering and (in his mind) friendless (despite actually being loved by the gang), Charlie Brown is enamored with his new neighbor, the Little Red-Haired Girl, well-known from the original comic strips as Charlie Brown’s schoolyard crush-yet never seen.

The other is Snoopy’s writing of a book about the Flying Ace, in which he saves his crush, Fifi, also a pilot, from the dangerous Red Baron and his army.

As usual, the film is really about Charlie Brown’s endless insecurities, prompted by bad luck and his habit of screwing things up, even though his intentions are noble.

When the Little Red-Haired Girl moves in across the street from Charlie Brown, he is immediately smitten and does numerous things to impress her and get her attention, but things go wrong.

A talent show in which he plays a magician goes wrong.

To his delight, he is partnered with the Little Red-Haired Girl on a book report, but when she is called out of town, he is forced to write the report himself, thereby foiling his attempts at getting close to her.

As usual, all parents remain unseen and speak garbled as the story is about the kids.

An interesting element is that while we see the Little Red-Haired Girl and she does speak, most of it happens toward the end.

For most of the film, we see her only from behind, which adds an element of mystery.

It would have been interesting to explore some of the supporting characters more: is Peppermint Patty gay, and is Marcie her love interest? How about a love interest or background for some of the others? A side story explored is a growing romance between Pig-Pen and Patti.

The film does a nice job of featuring the familiar settings of the original comic strip, Lucy’s psychiatrist’s booth, the wall, and the skating pond, which is a treat for longtime fans.

The Peanuts Movie (2015) is a nice film. I would have preferred a bit more of an edge or more creativity, as the original creator, Charles Schulz, had, but it is nice to be reminded of a simple time in life, and this film is a good time.