Hayek is sincere and gives it her all but believability still turns up suspect. The lack of complexity and depth is what hurts much more than the ritualistic violence and stylised mayhem on display here.

The voicing is all done by child artistes and that’s a plus for greater attachment. The colour palette stays largely true to Schulz’s printed vision and Vince Guraldi’s iconic music finds voice in the new background compositions. Missing character summaries and lack of back stories hamper the enjoyment of this flip through of a 50-year-old antiquated Charlie Brown universe. While the computer animation renders faithfully, the 3D seems pointless. And familiarity alone does not generate enough excitement for this so-called fresh run at the cinemas.

This is a reality driven film, brutish in evocation and as such, might not be pleasing to all.

There are portions in this film which keep you completely engrossed and involved and there are those that remain listless , as though unanchored to a steady rhythm or pace. Despite the great adventure at the centre of it all, there’s not much awe, surprise or suspense to be had here. And it’s all to do with the inconsistent scripting and helming. While effects are top notch and visually appealing there’s very little thrill in the experience. And that for an adventure/disaster movie is a great dampener.

There are some truly amazing photo-realistic sets serving as true background for the adventure and it’s truly an awe-inspiring sight to behold. The visuals are stunning to say the least and so are the character definitions and movements. And there’s also a strong message underlining the adventure – an engaging mix to keep the young and old entertained!

By the end of it all (including the neat epilogue) you are just relieved that the exhausting series has finally ended. ‘Catching Fire’ did take it to the pinnacle just as ‘Mockingjay Part 1’ toppled it back to the ground level. Part 2 manages to save the blushes. It doesn’t catch fire but does a fair impersonation of it.

This film is at best serviceable. Nothing exciting or extraordinary about it!

The film, in effect, appears over plotted and a little too long-drawn with a flagging middle act and a neatly executed conclusion. This Bond is akin to an ageing Romeo striving to engage in young-man games…and falling flat just a little too often to be exciting!

Veteran documentarian Guggenheim, who won the Academy Award for 2006’s “An Inconvenient Truth” and has critically acclaimed works like “It Might Get Loud” and “Waiting for Superman” behind him, appears to have lost focus in the brouhaha over a young girl’s much revered super-heroics. And that wasn’t really expected!

There’s so much waxing and waning that you just can’t hold tight to the good things. The climax is also quite chaotic and repelling-especially since it suggests there’s a no 3 on the way… certainly, that’s not something we want to go through again?