The Peanuts Movie (2015)

Genre

Animation | Comedy

Director

Steve Martino

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Troy Andrews, Rebecca Bloom, Anastasia Bredikhina, Francesca Angelucci Capaldi, Kristin Chenoweth, Alex Garfin, Noah Johnston, Bill Melendez, Hadley Belle Miller, Noah Schnapp, Micah Revelli, Venus Omega, Mariel Sheets, Madisyn Shipman, A.J. Teece, Marelik Walker, William Wunsch

Storyline

Snoopy (Bill Melendez) 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 (Noah Schnapp) begins his own epic quest back home to win the love of his life.

Opinion

Whether you are or not a fan of the Peanuts, the names Charlie Brown and Snoopy are enough to evoke an image of the kid with only a small curl of hair, and his loyal beagle. Not being a fan myself, I was reluctant to watch this film. Yet the trailer made a quite good impression on me, so I just went for it, and I was pleasingly surprised.

The Peanuts Movie is a fun, adorable computer animated film that manages to entertain all: kids, adults, and, as far as I've read, nostalgic adults. 

The story is pretty simple and a bit clichéd, but the way it is executed makes it a sweet story that engages. However, although most have liked this part the most, I've found the Snoopy sub-plot a little granted, cloying and boring. The screenplay intertwines irony, imagination, torments of childhood, and absence of adults quite well, but some gags seems a little forced.

Also, even though the film is fun to watch and delivers some simple and positive messages, the overall impression is that the film does not reach very high peaks and is more suitable for children. 

On the other hand, there is the stunning animation. The characters and the background look like they were taken straight out of the comics. The animation of the characters isn't too exaggerated, and they still move a little cartoonish, especially Snoopy. Sound words are also threw in and they are great to give the film that comic feeling. 

The characters are portrayed in their essence so that even the little ones and those who have not grown up with the Peanuts can relate to them: you will root for Charlie Brown, hate Lucy, and fall in love with cool and rebel Patty instead of the Little Red-Haired Girl.