Agreed. I thought Boyd did a fine job as Pip...my objections are about the lines he was given, and the perception that he crafted with the help of PJ/Boyens/Walsh that he did the things because he was incredibly stupid. That Pippin was actually a very smart young hobbit who did some VERY VERY thoughtless things was what made him The Fool, not that he was a dimwit who the others couldn't get rid of. I cant tell you how shocked and dismayed I was when they were with Treebeard, and Pippin started talking about going home. Sorry, but that wasnt what I ever read in the books...in fact, that was MERRY who was thinking that...so in short, they all got those characters screwed up.
Agreed on Merry, too :D
Yeah, I think Sam was rougher too, but I think that kind of goes in line with the master/servant relationship that they watered down so much. I think the only thing I didnt think was all that Sam-ish was the fact that he was more equal in standing to the others...