The Peanuts Movie (2015): A Looking Closer Film Forum
As The Peanuts Movie opens in theaters, the news seems to be good.
One of these days, I'll find the time to write up a full appreciation of Charles Schulz and the influential role he had in my imagination throughout childhood. I still revere the entirety of his Peanuts comics run, and A Charlie Brown Christmas is pretty close to a sacred text for me.
In fact, a few years ago I had the privilege of participating in a short broadcast celebrating that Peanuts Christmas special. And I was in good company: Other guests who showed up in the seven-minute tribute to praise the show included Over the Rhine's Linford Detweiler; animator Don Bluth; Dick Staub (creator of The Kindlings Muse and author of The Culturally Savvy Christian); Robert Short (author of The Gospel According to Peanuts); recording artists CeCe Winans, David Crowder, and Article One; Phil Vischer (VeggieTales animator and author of Me, Myself and Bob); Steven James and David Thomas (authors of Yup. Nope. Maybe and Does This This Dress Make me Look Fat?); Carolyn McCulley (author of Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?); Beth Maynard (author of Get up off Your Knees); Mark Pinsky ( author of The Gospel According to Disney); and Kelly Monroe Kullberg (editor of Finding God at Harvard). I'm glad to find that program still accessible online so that you can hear it.
I've been trying to ignore the fact that Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, and company are coming to a theater near you (in 3D!) It's so difficult to imagine anybody doing justice to Schulz's carefully calibrated balancing act between bleak reality and childlike faith, between wacky comedy and philosophical substance. Television has all but ruined The Muppets this year, so that hasn't helped me fight off my cynicism.
But lo... as The Peanuts Movie opens in theaters, the news seems to be good.
Steven Greydanus delivers the good news at The National Catholic Register:
...
Most vitally, it feels pretty much the same, thanks to a screenplay by Schulz’s son Craig Schulz, Craig’s son Bryan Schulz and Cornelius Uliano, who all share producer credits with Paul Feig and Michael J. Travers. The writers play it safe, with familiar themes and situations rendered just fresh enough to be worthwhile. Director Steve Martino, who directed the only Dr. Seuss feature film to date that did any justice to its source material, has more to draw on here, with solid results.
But he asks:
Will today’s kids connect with it?
Peter Deburgeat Variety is also impressed:
The cartoon that emerges is not only stunning to behold, but also as comforting as a warm puppy....
Drew McWeenyat HitFix calls it
a gentle, charming movie that seems far less frantic than much of what is created for young audiences these days. Blue Sky, one of the two major producers of CG animated films for Fox, has produced ten feature films now, and while the majority of their efforts have been originals, it was clear from "Horton Hears A Who" that when they adapt someone else's property, they try to do so from a position of authenticity and respect.
Alan Scherstuhlat Village Voice highlights something that really matters to me:
cartooning
He goes on to conclude
Peanuts
Christy Lemireat RogerEbert.com isn't so impressed:
The Peanuts Movie
But Jesse Hassengerat The AV Club reminds us that
Peanuts