The Peanuts Movie - Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Charlie Brown and his loyal friend Snoopy are back, in this original yet very classic film that represents the Peanuts just as we know & love them.

Genre: Animation / Adventure / Comedy

Director: Steve Martino

Cast: Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez, Alexander Garfin, Mariel Sheets, Hadley Belle Miller, Venus Schultheis, Rebecca Bloom, Francesca Capaldi, Madisyn Shipman & Noah Johnston.

Run Time: 88 min.

US Release: 06 November 2015

UK Release:  21 December 2015

German Release: 24 December 2015

The Peanuts Movie was released in Germany on the 24th of December, nearly two months after its official U.S. release. This marks the first feature film in 35 years and serves as a reboot of sorts, sending Charlie Brown on an adventure as he falls in love with the little red-haired girl. This animation is a true tribute to the original comic strips by Charles Schulz, fully respecting his work.

To tell the truth, I was never a particular fan of the Peanuts. I watched the cartoons on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but I was never really looking forward to seeing them. For me, they were simply a way to pass the time until Looney Tunes or Biker Mice from Mars came on television, so I don’t have the same deep sense of attachment to this franchise as my parents or some of my friends do.

So when I walked into the theatre, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, as I hadn’t seen or read a Peanuts comic since my early teens. But when the movie started and the first characters appeared on screen, I felt like I had been transported back in time, sitting on my parents’ living room floor, watching cartoons early in the morning. Anything I couldn’t remember before came rushing back instantaneously.

The story in this animation revolves around ( who else but…) Charlie Brown, the main character of The Peanuts. When a new girl moves into town, Charlie is immediately love-struck by her grace and embarks on a heroic quest not only to win her heart but also to overcome his insecurities. Meanwhile, his loyal dog Snoopy is engaged in a fierce imaginary battle with his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron.

The Peanuts Movie not only transported me back to my childhood but also helped me understand why my parents are such devoted fans of this franchise. I finally recognised all the subtle messages aimed at adults within these stories, and Charlie’s quest for love genuinely resonated with me on an emotional level.

What I truly appreciated about Steve Martino’s direction and Bryan and Craig Schulz’s writing is that they didn’t try to change the formula or modernise the story. This is Peanuts exactly as we know and love it (or at least as our parents did). I took my mother to the screening (she’s a huge Snoopy fan) and she left the cinema with tears in her eyes, praising how beautifully the film handled its beloved characters.

The characters themselves haven’t changed at all. Charlie Brown is still the clumsy yet lovable underdog he’s always been, Peppermint Patty still falls asleep in class and remains best friends with bookworm Marcie, and Lucy is still the loudmouthed, advice-giving brat who always pulls the football away from Charlie.

These characters don’t need modernisation; they already carry timeless messages for today’s kids, reminding them that there’s a world beyond their screens worth exploring with friends. That’s what truly makes Peanuts special: watching all the kids meet outside to play baseball or football while socialising face-to-face.

The only character that received any notable change is the little red-haired girl, who was usually the unapproachable love interest of our young hero. In this movie, however, she finally gets a face and even a short but heartwarming line.

The Peanuts Movie may no longer use hand-drawn animation, but its blend of modern 3D computer animation with the original hand-drawn facial expressions works beautifully. I was pleasantly surprised by how expressive the characters are. It’s amazing how just a few lines can convey so much joy, sorrow, or anger.

Thankfully, Martino secured the rights to the archived music from previous Peanuts specials, and composer Christophe Beck did a brilliant job scoring the film. I still get goosebumps thinking about hearing the Peanuts theme song blast through the cinema speakers. Meghan Trainor’s “Better When I’m Dancin’” was another great addition that meshed perfectly with the film’s upbeat tone.

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Verdict: The Peanuts Movie is one of this year’s best animated films. It carries a strong sense of nostalgia; the writers and director wisely avoid tampering with the formula, and the characters remain as lovable as ever. It also managed to open my eyes and heart to a franchise I never fully appreciated as a child. I give this beautiful, heartfelt animation an 8.5 out of 10, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loved the original comic strips.

Did you see The Peanuts Movie yet? If not, I urge you to catch it in cinemas. And if you did, I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment below. This will be my last review for 2015. Thank you very much for reading, and if you enjoyed this review, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe.