When I first heard about The Peanuts Movie I was excited to see my favorite characters getting a feature length movie on the big screen! Then I heard it was going to be CG and I became disappointed. But then the first teaser came out and then a few trailers. My mind was blown! There was a huge sense of respect to not only the characters but to its creator, Charles Schulz. After taking a trip to the Charles M Schulz museum in Santa Rosa, CA in September, I was even more excited for the movie after seeing the love being poured into this movie. And now after seeing the movie, I cannot wait to see it again!
The movie opens with the traditional 20th Century Fox fanfare but then becomes a piano version played by who else? Why Schroeder of course! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! The genius of this movie has begun and it never lets up!
We see all of our favorite characters though this is purely a movie about Charlie Brown and Snoopy. You hear all of the classic lines but yet at no time does any of it sound forced. And even though it is CG, the animation remains true to the classic comic strip. Some of my favorite moments are when Charlie Brown goes into deep thought and his thought bubbles are images of him but in black and white form like the comic strip. The other thing that I loved is that the film makers didn't try to modernize the characters. They remained faithful to the Peanuts that we all know and love.
The movie follows Charlie Brown as a new family moves into the neighborhood. As you may have already guessed, it is indeed the little red-haired girl. Charlie Brown is in love and then school starts. As luck would have it, the little red-haired girl is in his class. He then tries to come up with ways to impress her. The school talent show is coming up and he practices a magic act that will impress even his friends. When it's just about his turn, something happens and you see how big of a heart Charlie Brown has. He does the right thing and feels he blew his chance to impress the little red-haired girl.
Charlie Brown's next opportunity to impress the little red-haired girl is when the school dance come up and there will be a dance contest. Charlie Brown has the worst dance moves until his best pal Snoopy teaches him to move his groove thing. Now it's the night of the dance and Charlie Brown is out to prove he is the best male dancer in the school and he is on his way until once again something happens and Charlie Brown feels that he is letting his chances slip away.
All the while, Snoopy, as the World War One flying ace, is taking on his nemesis, the Red Baron, and trying to impress a female pilot poodle named Fifi.
Will Charlie Brown be able to impress the little red-haired girl or will he remain the lovable loser that he is? A heartfelt movie with great laughs that will entertain life-long fans and new fans alike. Now when is the sequel being announced?
The Peanuts Movie opens November 6th in a theater near you!
