Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? No.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? If you like Snoopy.
Secret ending? All throughout the credits.
Running time: 93 minutes (~1.5 hours)
“Snoopy And Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie” is a 3D animated film based on the adventures of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. It follows Charlie Brown’s attempts to win the heart of the Little Red-Haired Girl, even as Snoopy attempts to deal with his imaginary nemesis. It stars the voice talents of Noah Schnapp (Charlie Brown), Bill Melendez (Snoopy and Woodstock), Rebecca Bloom (Marcie), Anastasia Bredikhina (Patty), Alex Garfin (Linus van Pelt), Hadley Belle Miller (Lucy van Pelt), Venus Omega Schultheis (Peppermint Patty), Mariel Sheets (Sally Brown), Kristin Chenoweth (Fifi), Noah Johnston (Schroeder), Francesca Angelucci Capaldi (Little Red-Haired Girl, Frieda), and Troy Andrews (Miss Othmar, Mrs Little Red-Haired Girl).
“Snoopy And Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie” is a nostalgic return to the Peanuts world for many adults, and also serves as a window into more idyllic times for the children of today (many of whom are surely wondering what a typewriter is). It shows how evergreen the appeal of the characters are, and this endearment is what saves the film from a lackluster story.
Highlights
Snoopy is adorable
Snoopy is, and always has been, adorable — and he’s no different here. His antics on the big screen show us just how cute he is, whether he’s immersed in his own world as a writer, or helping Charlie Brown out on his schemes to get the Little Red-Haired Girl’s attention. But most importantly is Snoopy’s loyalty to Charlie Brown. He’s there for his friend and master no matter what, and that friendship is what makes him a truly adorable character.
Charlie Brown’s strength of character
Though it’s clunkily rehashed at the climax, you can’t help but be impressed by what a good boy Charlie Brown is. He’s willing to put aside his pursuit of the Little Red-Haired Girl for his family and friends, showing us how much he cares for those around him. His good intentions far surpass any chaos that his clumsiness may wreak, showing us that at the end of the day, the nice guy does win after all.
Letdowns
Awkward animation
At many points in the film, the animation comes across as stop motion rather than the smooth, fluid cartoons that we’re used to today. The integration of 2D and 3D animation is an interesting choice, but the style comes across as rather stilted and stiff. It takes a while to get used to the animation of “Snoopy And Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie,” and you never quite feel comfortable with it.
No real plot
There’s no actual advancement of the story. It’s more like a series of funny events strung together with gags and jokes, and the characters don’t grow or learn very much from the film. As a result, you sometimes wonder where the movie is heading towards or how far Charlie Brown is from his goal, since there are no indications of plot progression.
Meandering pacing
As a result of the formless plot, the movie merely plods along with the barest hint of excitement. While we’re all keen to see what Charlie Brown and Snoopy are up to, the film drags itself along to show us what shenanigans each character is involved in. The lack of energy is palpable, and makes you rather bored at times.
“Snoopy And Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie” is a nostalgic return to more innocent times, but could have done with a stronger story.
“Snoopy And Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie” opens in cinemas 10 December, 2015 (Thursday).
This review was first published on Yahoo.
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