WHAT’S IT ABOUT
This summer, celebrate the joy and magic of summer camp and the importance of preserving what you love. Charlie Brown is determined to make his final year special, while first-timer Sally is nervous and skeptical of the new and unfamiliar place. While everyone settles in, Snoopy and Woodstock discover a treasure map that takes them on a wild adventure nearby.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
The latest offering from Apple TV+, the Peanuts gang returns to summer camp for their first musical journey in decades after 1988. Though the 41-minute special doesn’t hit the emotional high notes of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” it is a nice experience for families to share. Charlie Brown feels excited about his final year as a senior camper, especially since his younger sister Sally gets to attend camp for the first time. However, Sally isn’t thrilled about leaving home and missing her favorite TV shows. When the gang discovers that declining enrollment threatens to shut down their beloved camp forever, they decide to put on a musical show to save it. At the same time, Snoopy and Woodstock follow an old map to find buried treasure. It is a well-worn, yet comforting, plot. The camp setting has historically been successful for Peanuts because the characters can begin to grow in a way that is consistent with their personalities. Although the treasure hunt subplot dovetails with the main story in a predictable way, it does supply the kind of classic Snoopy humor. Ben Folds and his collaborators created songs that fit naturally into the Peanuts world. The opening bus ride number captures that excitement kids feel heading to camp, while Sally’s complaints about missing television ring true for any reluctant camper. Charlie Brown’s enthusiastic songs about camp life show a more optimistic side of his character than we usually see. The songs are catchy enough while you are watching the special that you don’t forget them. They don’t stick with you like “Christmas Time Is Here” or “Linus and Lucy” do, but they do their jobs well to move the story along and articulate the characters’ feelings. The cartoons are in the same style as the comic strip created by Charles Schulz. They modernized certain elements, such as the light shining through trees or scenes with night lights by the river, that look really nice while maintaining a tribute to the original illustrations. The characters are comfortable because they look familiar in design. Many long-time fans may notice some differences in design. The voice work results were variable. They manage to capture the essence of the characters from the original shows. Etienne Kellici brings a slightly deeper tone to Charlie Brown that takes getting used to, while the singing voices sound more polished than the authentic kid voices from earlier specials. This production is done to a professional standard for the musical format, though it loses some of those charming, awkward moments that made the old Peanuts specials so special. Earlier Peanuts television specials, for example, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” find balance between humor and themes that dive deeper into disappointment, hope, and the process of growing up. In those specials, characters actually fail and struggle before ultimately finding small victories. “A Summer Musical” is a lot more careful, as it chooses to focus more on positivity, nature, and friendship messages. There are some moments with special meaning to old timers that reflect what the original comic strip looked like when they first saw it in the 1950s. These cases play a crucial role in sharing Peanuts’ history with a new audience while offering current fans something new and exciting. In character roles, Sally stands out the most as a reluctant camper who eventually finds happiness in summer camp. Sally’s character arc is realistic, and she presents a character that we hope will prevail in the minds of younger consumers. Charlie Brown “does” appear to be more confident than we usually see him, as he is cast as the encouraging big brother rather than the anxious kid we know in other stories. Lucy, Linus, and the other familiar faces make appearances but don’t get much individual attention. The special focuses mainly on the Brown siblings and Snoopy, which keeps the story manageable but leaves some characters underused. Today’s children will find the environmental message of valuing nature and getting unplugged from technology meaningful. There is some irony in that the adult viewer may notice that this is an ad for Apple TV+ to promote being unplugged from technology, but the message has merit. The idea that children can work collaboratively to save something they care about reinforces messages of cooperation and determination. However, the messaging is surface compared to some of the deeper specials that were created to tackle issues of loneliness, rejection, and larger issues of finding meaning in the little moments. This approach is geared more toward early audiences and is more of a lighter take, which comes at the cost of some of the ideals and philosophies that Schulz worked so well into past specials and cartoons. The special is long enough to be 41 minutes, and is well-paced for the target audience. The special doesn’t feel dragged out or rushed through moments of importance. With Erik Wiese (SpongeBob SquarePants) directing. He seems to add a little more life to some of the musical numbers while keeping a moderate pace. Traditional viewers of Peanuts will find that they do appreciate a little more moderate pace, as well as the ability to spend a little more time with their favorite characters and some silly moments. The characters blended seamlessly into the scene and didn’t seem forced or shoehorned in. The musical production values are modern and clean, but not so polished that they seem out of place in the Peanuts cosmos. Colors pop while not being excessive, and the camp setting also allows for scenic beauty. Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical is successful family entertainment that introduces a whole new audience to characters children already know and the TV show, while allowing existing fans to revisit and attract kids with a friendly familial experience. It does not break new creative grounds nor present many emotional effects as some of the best Peanuts specials do, but it provides exactly what it promises: a fun, sweet, musical adventure with Charlie Brown and friends. The special works best when it focuses on simple pleasures demonstrated through the themes of friendship, music, and outdoor experiences. Although it may not be added to a family holiday tradition the way some earlier Peanuts specials will, it adds an appropriate seasonally-produced Peanuts to the Apple TV+ library that families can watch together. Parents who grew up on classic Peanuts will find enough nostalgia to keep them celebrating along with their kids. Kids will find familiarity in the colorful animation, catchy music, and positive messages. In our divided world, something is refreshing about a story where the biggest problem is saving summer camp and the solution involves putting on a show.
OUR RATING – A MUSICAL PEANUTS 8