by Ryan Lewellen
The sacred melancholy underdog, Charlie Brown, has been dearly loved by so many generations, it’s no surprise the news of a new animated movie was met with skepticism and concern. What would it look like? How could they get it right? Would they update it and transform the tone beyond recognition? Written by a trio including Schultz’ son and grandson, and directed by the not-too-prolific, but gifted Steve Martino, the completely harmless and utterly delightful The Peanuts Movie is the biggest surprise of the year so far. All the familiar characters are back, just as you’ve always known them (most of them outfitted with eerily similar voices to the original cast), and although the animation is in every way, bigger and more imaginative than ever, the film is perfectly sweet, and remains staunchly true to its source material. One might even complain the film took its faithfulness too far.
The Peanuts gang is already half-done with their current school year, and poor Charlie Brown is still stuck in his inescapable rut. Determined to find a path toward social significance, he works tirelessly upon a pitching mound in the middle of winter. Then, his search to be noticed is refocused on a more specific target, because The Little Redheaded Girl has moved in right across the street from him. Too mortified to introduce himself, he must find the perfect opportunity to lure her into acquainting herself with him, and between a talent show, an amazingly high score on a test, and a book report, Charlie’s bad luck repeatedly forces him to give up his dream for the sake of others.
The animators have taken the unassuming scribbles which became so iconic of the comic strips and television specials, and brought them to unbelievable new life in a creative compromise. The icons are intact, and the characters remain perfectly recognizable, but in every scene — from the dizzying, to the dour — they burst with textures and colors in 3D animation to create a look I never could have imagined before. It’s a wholly original aesthetic, and I find myself once again recommending people see this movie in its intended format. It’s a fascinating vision, and in some of Snoopy’s wilder fantasies (he is composing a novel on his adventure with The Red Baron), I find myself wishing I could crawl inside the screen and become part of this beautiful world.
Charlie’s journey is much less adventurous, as it is full of his special brand of embarrassing failures. Every time his hopes sore higher, the crashing of his tender ego is more severe, and it starts to appear as though his fight for acceptance might be a lost cause. Of course, the always honorable Mr. Brown couldn’t be let down forever, and that’s what is so endearing about his fight and this film. The movie reaffirms the belief that some benevolent force out there: the universe, or God, or Karma, or The Kite-eating Tree will eventually reward you for all the good you put into the world. The struggle to do right, even at the expense of your own happiness, does improve lives, including your own.
Complimenting that endearing sweetness is a healthy dose of humor. The movie is quite funny, and should at least draw a smile from adults and children, alike (I know, because I am both). The only disappointment here is how often the film feels the need to pay homage to the classic gags. Practically every joke from A Charlie Brown Christmas finds its way into the script. For the sake of authenticity, there should be the occasional reference, but nearly every familiar routine left my fellow audience members completely silent, and the pace of the film seemed to stall at many of these moments, as well. It almost gave the impression the filmmakers were taking a break from the potentially uncomfortable freshness of their creations to remind everyone ‘It’s okay, see? Still The Peanuts’. It’s only a small nuisance, and these awkward seconds tick by quickly enough to not spoil one’s enjoyment. The Every-kid is still one of my favorite characters to watch, and I could have watched him here for hours. I’m glad to have him back in what I hope is updated just enough to encourage a new generation of kids to live a life of selflessness.
