The Peanuts Movie (January 2016)

Official Australian release date: 1/1/16. Viewed: 5/1/16.

Director: Steve Martino

Actors: Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez, Hadley Belle Miller, Alex Garfin

Genre: Comedy

Rating: G       

‘The Peanuts Movie’ (or ‘Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie’, as it’s billed in some places) seems long overdue, seeing as Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip has been around since 1950. Since he passed away in 2000, Schulz’s children have done well continuing on his legacy, as this film honours him and Peanuts well – the animation is quaint at times, but detailed and colourful when needed.

The whole Peanuts gang is here – the klutz Charlie Brown (Schnapp), the nagging Lucy (Miller), Charlie’s best friend Linus (Garfin), the odd-pair Patty & Marcie, Charlie’s sister Sally, the followed-by-a-cloud-of-dust Pig-Pen and, of course, Snoopy the beagle and Woodstock the bird. The film’s set in winter, so there’s plenty of snow and ice skating, and plenty of opportunities for Charlie Brown to embarrass himself. Plot = new girl moves in across the road, Charlie Brown spends the entire movie trying to impress/talk to her!

This director has form, with ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ and does well to keep things happening, especially when Snoopy’s daydreaming and dogfighting in the European WWI skies against the Red Baron! The other adult reference kids won’t get is Charlie Brown reading Leo Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’ – a 1,200+ page book for his book report – and asking for “Leo’s Toy Store” at the library! I didn’t like the weird sounds they used in place of adults/teachers, but otherwise it’s well made.

Overall: Enjoyable kids film.

Gav's Rating: 3 stars.