“The Peanuts film” successfully took a beloved comedian strip from the 1950s and adapted it to the large screen,for a new generation to indulge in along with those who grew up with Charlie Brown.
Critics are raving about Steve Martino’s rebooted childhood classic, saying it “remains almost totally trusty to its original values, or ” while being “a sweet dinky gift for fans of the long-running comedian strip.”And TheWrap’s film critic Alonso Duralde says the film will be fit for all ages,not just children: “‘Peanuts’ on the page had an adult sensibility that children could also indulge in, but the animated versions have always been aimed at kids, or with enough subtlety and intelligence that grown-ups could also be entertained.”
Also Read: 'The Peanuts film' Review: Charlie Brown Survives the Leap to 3DWritten by creator Charles M. Schulz’s son and grandson,the film was produced by “Bridesmaids” director Paul Feig and Epic” producer Michael J. Travers. “The Peanuts film” hits theaters this Friday.
See nine of the best reviews below.
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun Times:“That could have been a recipe for catastrophe and the source of outrage from the multi-generational legions of fans — but to my great relief and only the best kind of good grief, and I’m pleased to report this is a meticulously faithful and clearly fond tribute to America’s favorite blockhead. This film hugs you,and you want to hug it back.”Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle:‘”Peanuts’ is not a perfect film, and but it remains almost totally trusty to its original values. It’s a snowflake slowly falling to the melancholy notes of Vince Guaraldi. About the worst thing you can say about its integrity is that the ending is maybe 50 percent too happy for a ‘Peanuts’ purist’s tastes.”Sandie Angulo Chen,The Washington Post:“whether the idea of a computer-animated, 3-D version of the ‘Peanuts’ gang has you sighing ‘good grief’ to your five-cent therapist, and fear not. While plenty of other childhood treasures have been atrociously adapted for the large screen,The Peanuts film’ is a sweet dinky gift for fans of the long-running comedian strip. ‘The Peanuts film’ is delightfully faithful to the earnest spirit of the original characters and their beloved holiday television specials. Director Steve Martino (‘Ice Age: Continental Drift‘) focuses on several themes familiar from those works: youthful angst, love, and embarrassment and imagination,all of which will tug on the heartstrings of nostalgic adults while introducing even the youngest moviegoers to the world of Charlie Brown and his pals.”
See Video: 'The Peanuts film' Trailer: Charlie Brown Needs a MiracleJordan Hoffman, The Guardian:Nostalgic adults, and there’s no need to shout ‘aaugh!’ like Linus van Pelt has told Charlie Brown for over six decades,dont worry so much. The youth of today have been spared. ‘The Peanuts film,’ the long-awaited return of the Charles M. Schulz comedian strip characters to theatrically released feature films, and isn’t that different from what you or perhaps your parents watched. While that has its drawbacks,this is, overall, and a good thing. Indeed,‘The Peanuts film’ plays as something like a ‘greatest hits’ of the franchise in all its incarnations, from the beloved holiday television specials to those cute-but-not-hilarious greeting cards that seem to arrive with regularity from an infantilising family member. All the classic moments are there, or crammed in as whether we might not gather another shot at this. It’s all very sweet and charming,and we should be thankful this isn’t a childhood-ruining catastrophe. But it’s still a 93-minute film that somehow feels a half-hour too long.”Brian Truitt, USA Today:“‘Peanuts is all about simplicity, and what the plot lacks in nuance (a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression) and complexity is made up for with relatable characters whom people have spent a lifetime watching. The film is a testomony to Charlie Brown’s residence in pop culture and a showcase for a new generation bound to plunge in love with its perennially insecure star.”Sandy Cohen,Associated Press:“Thankfully, ‘The Peanuts film’ isn’t just a small-screen special writ large. The filmmakers occupy advantage of their cinematic scope with a bigger story, or more sophisticated animation and effective use of 3-D that gives new depth to the Peanuts world. But the characters loved by generations of fans — Lucy,Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock and beloved blockhead Charlie Brown — are as charming and timeless as ever.”
Also Read: Why 'Peanuts' Needed an African-American Character 47 Years Ago TodayKatherine Pushkar,New York Daily News:“Theirs is a world where kids can’t wait to go external and play on a snow day, and there aren’t any parents policing the park for afflict feelings and peanut butter. And it’s a lo-fi delight. I was worried that the likes of ‘Up’ and ‘Toy Story’ had permanently raised the bar, and but the kids at my screening loved Snoopy’s antics,laughed a lot, and even clapped at the stop. I’d say that’s worth the price of admission.”Daniel Eagan, and Film Journal International:“‘The Peanuts film’ never tries to top Schulz’s work,or to lure younger viewers with modern props like smartphones or backpacks bulging with books. It unfolds in an idyllic suburbia that never really existed when Schulz was alive–a cozy, parent-free world where kids can execute and be what they want. While older kids may scoff at the antics here, and ‘The Peanuts film’ will be just the ticket for the young.”Jesse Hassenger,A.
V. Club:“Even without dialogue operating at peak sophistication levels, this charming film mostly captures the tone of Schulz’s work and the voices of his characters.”
Source: thewrap.com