Review: 'The Peanuts Movie'

First and foremost, this is not a great movie, which may seem a bit disappointing. But that is not a bad thing in the slightest. When you remember the original Peanuts classics we know and love, was there really such greatness there to begin with? In one sense, maybe. But for the most part, there was a very simple amount of substance offered, with basic little morality tales you could get from a variety of sources. So if that's the case, then why do we cherish these characters so dearly? Well one reason I believe why is because they are so simple. Most everything else is always searching for meaning, grandeur and greatness, over exceeding it's grasp. But these guys aren't the Looney Tunes (though nothing against them at all); with the Peanuts, you were always able to just relax and observe. Almost the cartoon equivalent of watching clouds pass by in a clear blue sky. You experienced the holidays with them, the difficulties of school or hardships with your friends, and countless other everyday relatable problems. And each tale ending with a simple message, reminding us of our true greatness.

When I first saw that the animation was going to be three-dimensional, I got a little nervous. But now having just seen the movie, I was pleasantly surprised by how well they made it look. Even though it is computer animated, it manages to capture that two-dimensional, hand drawn quality and even jerkiness that we all remember. And there is even a few snippets of hand drawn animation here and there for good measure. So yes, the look of the film is great.

Charlie Brown's always been an interesting icon to have grown up with, for me that is. I've always felt the same way he has, being the socially awkward one, occasionally down on himself, the world itself seemingly pressing him down. But that's what always made his character so great and always nice to return to. Charlie Brown always had something positive come around in the end. It may not have always been what he had hoped for, or anticipated, but it always reassured him that there was always tomorrow to look forward to.

Like I said before, there is no real "greatness" in this movie attempt at the Peanuts, as far as storytelling is concerned. If you've seen a few of the original animated cartoons before, you've technically already seen this movie. But that does not mean that this movie is not worth seeing. It's the way they retell all these stories and update them for modern audiences that makes this film a real treat. To make us all feel young again.

Charles Schulz himself believed in wholesome, valued entertainment. In this day and age, that's something that is deeply missed. And this movie is a fresh drink of water, one that Schulz himself would surly be proud of.

My rating: 3 / 4