4 1/2 out of 5 Stars.
Good old Charlie Brown.A boy and his dog. The Peanuts used to grace the screen with a special type of simple charm in two dimensions. Now they are back on a bigger screen in even more dimensions with the same charm. Welcome back Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Woodstock, and the rest of the gain as the creation of Charles Schulz is adapted to the big screen with a slightly modernized look.
For those who have known The Peanuts over the years will notice a lot of familiar elements from the previous specials. All of the classic Peanuts tropes are utilized in this new film, keeping to nostalgia while presenting a fresh take on familiar characters. The story primarily focuses on Charlie Brown's bumbling attempts to talk to the little red-headed girl and Snoopy's imaginary story to fight the Red Baron and rescue a first love. The dual stories of a boy and his dog and their first loves. The story is simple, also part of the charm, and is well executed.
The Peanuts have always had a certain style and this modern presentation stays true. Fans of the original Peanuts are sure to love it and this is a great introduction for those who are just being introduced. Everything that is Peanuts and then some more.
Weaving the old 2D drawings into the 3D presents an added and unexpected charm that rounds out the film. And Charlie Brown, as always, is a loveable klutz who just can't seem to do anything right. It's difficult not to feel bad for him as he tries to figure out life and run away from everything. But the real charm of the movie is the humanity that has come from the original creation of Charles Schultz. In The Peanuts he always seemed to see the good in people in the end. And despite all of Charlie Brown's flaws, he's a great guy with a good heart, which is not lost by the end of the film. Despite everything bringing him down, Charlie Brown still gets back up and he still does the right thing. Charlie Brown is the silent hero who fights for what's right even if he doesn't have it all quite figured out.
