In the previous 24 hours, I'd say my feelings on The Peanuts Movie have thawed slightly. While I was intentionally provocative in the nature and wording of my review, I was at least not intending to be disingenuous. Whether they are fair critiques of the film in a broader sense, they were the thoughts that hit me as I watched the film. I'd posit two things, if I had posted a more moderated review, it wouldn't have sparked the subsequent debate (that I think has been substantive to both the movie and considering what might be the proper way to watch or write about a movie). And if it didn't spark that response, I wouldn't have been forced to think harder about the film than the first blush reaction that was captured in my review. And that's why, while I still consider it a deeply unfulfilling film, I'd bump it up to a D, maybe be more inclined to write that moderated review that expresses the concerns but notes the potential bright spots.
One thing I'm not sure I'd do is try to get into the child's-eye perspective. To start playing the intended audience game is to move toward an objective-ish approach to review, one that I tend to reject as illusory to begin with. As such, I can only offer a review from my own perspective as a childless adult, and through my frame of reference as someone sensitive to portraits of gender relations. I think back to my rather atypical interpretation of The Illusionist, which made it a far less innocent film. My interpretation was absolutely wrong in consideration of authorial intent, but I'd argue it was plausible just based on the text. I think this gets to what Junior is talking about. Sometimes you risk being wrong in being different, but it is worth it because only through difference can assumptions or status quo be challenged.
Anyway, I do like the idea of studying people and learning how to use them as a gauge for recommendations even if you don't have the same tastes. Kermode works for me because he has that "Old Trot" lefty feminist approach. There are other places where I can predict I will break from him though. I'd put it a bit like talking about beer. I might drink an IPA and be like yuck, so hoppy. Well, someone who likes hoppy beers might see that as a recommendation, even though I was saying it was bad. My reaction has provided a function, even if an indirect one.