The Peanuts Movie

I've always been a fan of the Peanuts comic strip - do Peanuts fans call themselves the Peanut Gallery? - If so, count me in.

In my early years of reading, I used to devour the Sunday "funnies" as my grandma calls them. She used to send them to me in big yellow envelopes, and Peanuts was always one of my favorite strips.

When I was young, I laughed at it for Charlie's blockheaded-ness and Snoopy's antics. As I get older, I look at Peanuts with a different perspective - I relate to Charlie's blockheaded-ness and the melancholy of growing up. 

Peanuts shines as a wonderful juxtaposition of life's ups and downs - for every time Lucy tricks Charlie into making a fool of himself, Linus is there to pick him back up. For every time his kite gets stuck in a tree, Snoopy is there to be a friend. As much of a klutz Charlie can be, he's a good man - and his friends have his back.

When I went to see Peanuts, I was ready to soak in a feel good movie and ride the nostalgia train as far as I could - and I had a blast.

The movie looks beautiful - a one of a kind 3-D animation style is a huge success in keeping the tone and overall aesthetic of the 2-D classics we know and love. 

This is such a character driven movie, and it's great fun to watch the Peanuts come to life in a new and exciting format; you couldn't ask for better voice actors.

After seeing a trailer for the movie earlier in the year that showcased some pop music, I was terrified Peanuts was going to try to hard to cater to younger audiences; thankfully, this isn't the case. The score is a fantastic fit, and there weren't any pop songs save for a dance song that actually ties into the plot.

The plot itself is refreshingly simple - with a runtime just over an hour and a half, it succeeds in doing what Schultz was a master of - putting Charlie down, then picking him back up again. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't rely on the classic Peanuts "cliches", but used them to enhance its own story. Intertwined with the adventures of "The Flying Ace", a "Little Red-Haired Girl" moves in across the street from Chuck - who instantly starts crushing on her. Charlie is excited for a chance to have a clean slate with someone and thinks maybe she could see past his blockheaded-ness. Charlie's quest is tough, and there were several parts that were hard to watch (in a good, Peanuts way), but the reward is so great and I had a smile on my face the whole time. 

Charlie's selflessness, compassion, and bravery are all heartwarming and inspiring. Linus's wisdom is consoling. Schroeder's piano skills are entrancing. 

This movie was everything I was looking for, and something all ages can enjoy and take different things away from. Long time fans will love it, and it could make fans of a new generation as well.

3D? Not necessary. If you have the extra $ to blow, might as well. It looked nice.