Simple and not
trying to be overambitious—that’s what The Peanuts Movie is all
about. The writers of the movie are the late Charles M. Schulz’s children,
Bryan and Craig Schulz. Their father would be proud to know that this film,
which marks the 65th anniversary of the comic strip and is the fifth
full-length movie, stayed true to its roots.
The Peanuts
Movie is a fun ride for both longtime Charlie Brown fans and newcomers. It
captures all the charm of the original comic strip, though most of the scenes
are set between Charlie Brown’s home and school. I think the writers could have
ventured out a bit more, but it still works.
The movie draws
from many of Schulz’s stories to create this over-80-minute nostalgic journey.
Here’s the basic plot:
Charlie Brown has fallen in love with his neighbor, the Little Red-Haired Girl.
But his insecurities get the better of him, and he spends most of his time
trying to muster the courage to talk to her.
After getting
some 50-cent advice from Lucy, Charlie decides to perform acts to catch the
Little Red-Haired Girl’s attention. However, it’s not his intentional efforts
that win her over. Instead, it’s when Charlie scores a perfect score on his
test, turning him into an overnight celebrity.
But if you’re
familiar with Charlie Brown, you know this fame doesn’t last long.
To see how
Charlie handles the pressure of being a celebrity while lacking the confidence
to match, I’ll stop here and encourage you to go watch the movie.
The movie keeps
its classic gags intact: Charlie and his kite, Charlie and his inferiority
complex, and Charlie as the perpetually depressed kid who can turn a simple
book report into a lifelong commitment. And, of course, there’s the running gag
where Charlie tries to kick the football, only for Lucy to pull it away at the
last second. If you stick around until the end, you won’t miss that scene.
This is the
first Peanuts movie in 35 years, and it leaves me wondering if we
should hold our breath for more. I loved seeing the gang I grew up reading and
watching, and watching Snoopy dive into his fantasies again warmed my heart.
This time, Snoopy’s fantasy involves chasing the Red Baron, who has kidnapped
his dream girl, Fifi.
For me, a second Peanuts movie would be more than welcome—and I’m sure many others would enjoy it too.
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