Story
Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie is an animated comedy that follows Charlie Brown (voice of Noah Schnapp) and Snoopy (voice of Bill Melendez) as they try to achieve their dreams. At the start of the story, Charlie is going about his regular activities, ice skating with friends, planning for the upcoming baseball season, and generally enjoying life. But when he meets a new arrival to the neighbourhood, the Little Red-Haired Girl (Francesca Capaldi), he develops a crush on her. Charlie embarks on a quest to discover activities that might make the Little Red-Haired Girl notice him. For example, he performs at the winter dance, writes a novel, enters a talent show and so on. Accident-prone Charlie runs into many obstacles as he tries to impress the girl of his dreams. He is helped along the way by his friend Snoopy, who is also on his own quest to become a World War I pilot legend.Themes
Violence
There is minimal violence in Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie. For example:
- There is some slapstick-style violence when Charlie clumsily tries new activities like flying a kite, dancing and playing hockey. He often falls over, walks into things and hits parts of himself. These scenes don’t show any serious violence or injuries, however.
- There are flight-based fantasy scenes in Snoopy’s storyline. These involve airplane crashes, plane battles, guns and bullets. These scenes don’t show any injuries and blood, however.
Content that may disturb children
Under 5
Some of the fantasy WWI flight scenes might scare children in this age group.
From 5-8
Nothing of concern
From 8-13
Nothing of concern
Over 13
Nothing of concern
Sexual references
Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie includes some very mild sexual references. For example:
- Charlie falls deeply in love with the Little Red-Haired Girl, and his actions throughout the movie are the result of his crush.
- Lucy often tries to get Schroeder to pay attention to her, and acts in a flirty way.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
There is mild use of substances in Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie, including when several characters drink beers as part of a celebration.
Nudity and sexual activity
Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie shows some very mild sexual activity. For example:
- Snoopy kisses Lucy – this is very mild.
- Charlie Brown loses his clothes and falls over – the scene is supposed to be funny and doesn’t show any inappropriate nudity.
Product placement
Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie shows the Target brand.
Coarse language
Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie includes some mild insults and name-calling.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie is a hilarious and touching movie about friendship, confidence and achievement.
The movie explores self-esteem issues through Charlie’s character – he often talks himself down, and has very little faith in himself and his own abilities. But through trial and error, he learns that other people accept and love him for who he is. The movie also highlights the importance of friendship, and how friends make a positive and significant impact on your life.
Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include:
- understanding how friends can help you overcome obstacles in life
- being yourself in your friendships and relationships
- having confidence and faith in yourself and your own abilities
- always trying your hardest when you want to achieve something that’s important to you.
This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues like:
- how self-esteem and self-belief impact on your ability to achieve things
- how being ‘popular’ is different from being genuinely liked by others because you’re a decent person.