By CHRIS PUNTO & NATALIE SACKET
Columnists
This week, let’s check out something nostalgic: “The Peanuts Movie.”
Chris: 5 out of 5 stars
This movie was great. I don’t even have a single issue with it. It was cute, funny, entertaining, well animated, and great for all ages.
Here we go. On a cuteness scale, what’s better than seeing good old Charlie Brown pine after the new red haired cutie in town? Nothing. It’s also an adorable setting of a snow covered town in the winter that has me excited for the months to come.
The animations were amazing. I love how they incorporated different elements that you usually only see on newspaper comic strips. The bright colors for explosions and the dotted lines to show movement were great additions that only made this movie more likable. It also had many ongoing jokes from the old television shows and comic strips like the football scene.
I think the most important part of this movie is that it is relatable. Everyone knows what it’s like to try to start new, whether it’s a new location or just a new person. You want that person to see the best parts of you that seem to be lost upon all the other people that have been in your life long enough to also see your flaws, your faults, and your failures. This movie really hit home with that. It was enough to entertain young children and almost bring a tear to the eyes of the older crowds. Don’t judge me.
Bottom line. I think this movie will make a strong push for an Oscar for Best Animated Movie. Also, sorry about all the kids movies lately. They’re so good, though. Go watch this movie.
Natalie: 3.5
The time has come, dear readers. After nearly three years of telling you how much I despise children’s movies, I must admit that I have been forced to change my mind. After films like “Lego Movie” and “Big Hero 6,” I have been won over to the dark side. … er, the light side, I suppose. With the latest children’s film, “The Peanuts Movie,” I’m officially a fan of kids movies, and I’m not even salty about it.
As I lean back and watch the little cartoon figures prance about the screen, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. The familiar faces of Charlie Brown and Snoopy appear, like old friends coming back for a reunion.
With the challenges of book reports, standardized testing and kites, “The Peanuts Movie” tackles topics of friendship, schoolboy crushes and talent shows. The film is great for kiddos, teaching the value of courage, honesty, kindness and selfless acts.
It’s the same beloved “Peanuts” from my childhood, revamped and ready to inspire a new generation of children. This film is new in its simplicity, and conveys important messages without trying too hard to be something the series inherently isn’t.
Bottom Line: “The Peanuts Movie” is sweet and sentimental and revives the legacy that Charles M. Schulz created over six decades ago. You’ll go nuts about this film.