Snoopy, Come Home!Nobody likes to feel taken for granted, or singled out and dismissed for that matter. When Snoopy feels that he is no longer appreciated by the rest of the Peanuts gang--including his owner, Charlie Brown--he embarks on a journey of discovery and identity...a bold endeavor for a pint-sized beagle! This quest is prompted by a wistful letter from his first owner, Lila, who invites him to visit her at the hospital. Along the way, he and his avian ally, Woodstock--making his debut--engage in a variety of adventures and Snoopy discovers what is truly important to him, and what family means to him.
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Snoopy, Come Home! marks a transition for the Peanuts animated films from the Sixties into the Seventies, and is effectively the sequel to A Boy Named Charlie Brown. The introduction of the little yellow bird, Woodstock--no surprise where his name came from--serves as a companion for Snoopy, which is much appreciated as this Snoopy-centric tale deals with the charming beagle having to cope with everything from disenfranchisement to discrimination; just where are dogs allowed? And while previously introduced in the comics, Peppermint Patty makes her presence known throughout this film, engaging Snoopy for a day at the beach, and later her pal, "Chuck" (i.e. Charlie Brown), for a date to the carnival, her carefree, tomboy attitude making her a fun, light-hearted focus at points. Of course, the rest of the crew emerges in typical form, from Lucy's arrogance and impatience to her brother, Linus' predilection for his security blanket and periodic nuggets of wisdom beyond his years. Early on, Charlie Brown notices his dog's frequent "independence", his wanderlust that keeps him out to late hours, as if searching for something. Lila's invitation to visit him in the hospital comes at just the right time in Snoopy's life, and sets him on the proverbial "Road to Damascus". Snoopy's dilemma comes when Lila invites him to come home with her, after she has claimed that his presence has made her well again from whatever condition had been ailing her. Snoopy and Lila's relationship is like a metaphor for a first love, cut short by circumstances, and dwelling in the parties' minds as something perfect and unblemished, seen through nostalgia. It is true that Lila and Snoopy enjoy one another's company; but when Snoopy is forced to make a definitive decision about how (and with whom) he will spend the rest of his life, it forces him to consider what he values and what is most dear to him, something everyone in a relationship must do at some point.
As Snoopy and Woodstock sojourn through the wild lands of suburbia to make their way to Lila's hospital, they encounter an overzealous, "sentimental gal" (credited as "Clara"), who practically abducts them, forcing the duo to employ creative means to escape. It is a key moment where Snoopy starts to understand that life with Charlie Brown wasn't just okay, it was actually pretty good, with the quintessential "blockhead" treating Snoopy not just as a dog, but as a friend. With Snoopy absent for a while, Charlie Brown and his friends--also friends of Snoopy--consider what level of responsibility they had in the hound's flight. Their concern for Snoopy isn't just for his welfare, but also that they feel that they may not have been good enough friends; ironically, this thought is an expression of how they do really care for Snoopy, as good friends do. When Snoopy initially returns after his visit to Lila, he indicates that he will be going to live with her, which prompts a going away party by all, and a flood of tears streams down from the eyes of all. In fact, this is arguably the weepiest of Peanuts films, but it is important, because Peanuts aside, all too often cartoons have a tendency to talk down to their audience, to gloss over real emotions with triviality. Too often, problems which face children like losing a dog or a friend--real concerns children face--get ignored in the hopes that they will not come up; Snoopy, Come Home! bravely addresses these feelings, and affords the audience the ability to sympathize without being patronized. Snoopy, Come Home! addresses feelings of loss, but for loss to matter, there must also be the presence of love, which is felt throughout the film. In one great moment in particular, as Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty are at the carnival, eating cotton candy, Patty asks him what he thinks love is, to which Charlie Brown gives via a poignant allegory about his father, a girl he loved, and a 1934 sedan. Snoopy, Come Home! is about love--even more than loss--be it the love of an owner for a pet, or the love between friends, it is the driving force which defines "family" for us all, as well as how we define "home".
Recommended for: Fans of the beloved Peanuts characters, making their motion picture return. It is a charming and sweet tale which addresses important themes for both children and adults, while retaining the magic which makes Peanuts such a perennial classic.
As Snoopy and Woodstock sojourn through the wild lands of suburbia to make their way to Lila's hospital, they encounter an overzealous, "sentimental gal" (credited as "Clara"), who practically abducts them, forcing the duo to employ creative means to escape. It is a key moment where Snoopy starts to understand that life with Charlie Brown wasn't just okay, it was actually pretty good, with the quintessential "blockhead" treating Snoopy not just as a dog, but as a friend. With Snoopy absent for a while, Charlie Brown and his friends--also friends of Snoopy--consider what level of responsibility they had in the hound's flight. Their concern for Snoopy isn't just for his welfare, but also that they feel that they may not have been good enough friends; ironically, this thought is an expression of how they do really care for Snoopy, as good friends do. When Snoopy initially returns after his visit to Lila, he indicates that he will be going to live with her, which prompts a going away party by all, and a flood of tears streams down from the eyes of all. In fact, this is arguably the weepiest of Peanuts films, but it is important, because Peanuts aside, all too often cartoons have a tendency to talk down to their audience, to gloss over real emotions with triviality. Too often, problems which face children like losing a dog or a friend--real concerns children face--get ignored in the hopes that they will not come up; Snoopy, Come Home! bravely addresses these feelings, and affords the audience the ability to sympathize without being patronized. Snoopy, Come Home! addresses feelings of loss, but for loss to matter, there must also be the presence of love, which is felt throughout the film. In one great moment in particular, as Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty are at the carnival, eating cotton candy, Patty asks him what he thinks love is, to which Charlie Brown gives via a poignant allegory about his father, a girl he loved, and a 1934 sedan. Snoopy, Come Home! is about love--even more than loss--be it the love of an owner for a pet, or the love between friends, it is the driving force which defines "family" for us all, as well as how we define "home".
Recommended for: Fans of the beloved Peanuts characters, making their motion picture return. It is a charming and sweet tale which addresses important themes for both children and adults, while retaining the magic which makes Peanuts such a perennial classic.