If “The Peanuts Movie” could be described in one word, it would by “joyful.”
Opening Nov. 6, “The Peanuts Movie,” directed by Steve Martino and produced by Craig and Bryan Schulz, tells the story of Charlie Brown, here voiced by Noah Schnapp — everyone’s favorite lovable loser — as he attempts to win the affections of the new girl in town, also known as the mysterious “Little Red-Haired Girl.”
The film also features a subplot of Snoopy, voiced by Bill Melendez via archival recordings, as the World War I flying ace trying to save his love interest Fifi, voiced by stage and screen star and “Peanuts” alum Kristin Chenoweth. Chenoweth played Sally Brown in the 1999 revival of the musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”.
The film features all the beloved characters from the Charles M. Schulz comic strip, including Charlie’s best friend Linus van Pelt, voiced by Alex Garfin; neighborhood bully Lucy, voiced by Hadley Belle Miller; Charlie’s little sister Sally, voiced by Mariel Sheets; Pig-Pen, voiced by AJ Teece; Schroeder, voiced by Noah Johnston; Peppermint Patty, voiced by Venus Omega Schultheis; Marcie, voiced by Rebecca Bloom; and Francesca Angelucci Capaldi as the mythical Little Red-Haired Girl.
“The Peanuts Movie” also features Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews as the “wah-wah” voices of the adults, including the gang’s teacher, Miss Othmar.
The film uses several classic “Peanuts” tropes: Charlie Brown’s failure to fly a kite successfully and small children posing adult-like existential questions — Charlie constantly wonders if it is his fate to fail at everything he tries, Snoopy’s attempting to write the great American novel, Schroeder’s rebuffing Lucy’s attempts at flirting and the whole gang’s dancing to the classic theme tune.
What makes “The Peanuts Movie” work so well is the creative team behind it. Craig Schulz is the son of “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz, and Bryan is his grandson. The animation team also did a wonderful job in keeping with the traditional design style of the “Peanuts” gang while using computer animation and three-dimensional design.
The moments of two-dimensional animation that look like moving versions of the comic strip are also wonderful to see as well.
There is something incredibly comforting about going to see “The Peanuts Movie,” from the familiarity of the characters to knowing Charlie Brown will once again be reminded of how much his friends care for him and that they will always be there to cheer him up when he is feeling down. The movie’s lighthearted nature also serves as a much-needed balm from all the gritty realism that makes up a majority of the films made these days.
Another thing I noticed when watching “The Peanuts Movie” is how these characters are able to transcend generations. Seeing grandparents and parents sharing this movie with their children and grandchildren was a wonderful sight to see.
If you love a feeling of nostalgia, a sense of wonder and seeing some of your favorite childhood characters reimagined in a whole new style of animation, then “The Peanuts Movie” is for you.
Kelseigh Ingram
