My family tradition on Christmas Day is to go to the movies. Sadly other than STAR WARS - THE FORCE AWAKENS, there wasn't anything else I wanted to see except for THE PEANUTS MOVIE. As I looked at the local listings I saw that in most theatres, the last day it was shown was December 24th.
What to do...what to do?
After a frantic search we saw it was playing at a small theatre in Manchester, CT... but not just nay theatre... the Parkade Cinemas! Those in the UK, Canada and China may not get a thrill from hearing that... but those who grew up in Western Mass and Connecticut have fond memories. The last time I was there was sometime in 1988 watching THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!
But anyway...this is about the movie! THE PEANUTS MOVIE was nothing less than a love letter from my childhood! Before STAR WARS, the Pittsburgh Penguins and most anything else (other than comic books) PEANUTS was so much to me.
First of all, the look of THE PEANUTS MOVIE may throw you a bit. Instead of its traditional flat look, the characters have been given a 3D life yet still retains the feel and gentle emotions of the originals. The film has two stories running through it; Charlie Brown falls in love and Snoopy flies in the deadly skies of World War I to save his true love from capture by the Red Baron. Both stories were simply beautifully presented and gave me so many moments that tears began to flow and my heart beat a bit faster.
For some the computer generated style took a bit of getting used to, but the first time Charlie Brown did something foolish or Snoopy caused trouble a real fan fell right in.
This was not just a great kids movie! This was a film with heart that was made by those who grew up on the films and wanted to create part of the legacy more than put their mark on it! From music, to voices, to dialogue this movie reminds us all what is good about life.
Now something else I must mention since there are several World War I fighter planes shown; Sopwith Camel, Fokker Triplane and a few Fokker DVII... all the details were PERFECT! From the strut supports, engine access plates and rudder cuts, it was so awesome to realize that care was put into details most viewers would miss or not even care about.
Matman Rating - 5 out of 5 Dogfights