A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Starring: Todd Barbee, Robin Kohn, Stephen Shea, Hilary Momberger-Powers, Christopher DeFaria, Jimmy Ahrens
Directed by: Bill Melendez, Phil Roman
Rating: TV-G
Genre: Animation, Short, Comedy
Length: 25 minutes
1973

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: Charlie Brown is overwhelmed when his friends all invite themselves over to his house for Thanksgiving.

Review:

Tim: I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of Peanuts. Sure, Charles M. Schulz's comic script was enjoyable, but many people tend to relate to these animated television shorts. They've certainly become holiday "classics". My problem is that I've never enjoyed them. I didn't like them when I was a kid and I certainly haven't changed my mind as a 38 year-old father of two. Quite frankly, these short films depress me.

I've never really gotten these movies. It feels like they take such a dull, depressing view of life. Charlie Brown is at the center of this story and it involves his friends acting very unfriendly by inviting themselves to his house and then being pretty awful guests. Charlie Brown can't stand up for himself, so he jumps through hoops to please his friends, who aren't easy to please. He's stressed out and overwhelmed, and to some extent, so are we.

Now, I know people love these movies. My wife is definitely a fan, so I get it. I've just never been able to connect with the stories. I feel bad for Charlie Brown and I can't say I like most of his friends. Those aspects of the film have always troubled me. That's much of the short film.

The best scenes of the film are the moments of levity provided by Snoopy and Woodstock. One of the best sequences involves a fight scene between Snoopy and a chair. It's definitely in line with Schulz's vision for these characters, but it's entertaining and lighthearted. There's a few other moments during the 25-minute run time, but far too few.

The music has always been good in these short films and this is no exception. The "Linus & Lucy" song is enjoyable whenever you hear it.

I recognize that many people view these Peanuts shorts as beloved remnants of their childhood. I don't fault those people, but they really aren't for me. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving tries to end on a positive note, but it doesn't change the basic focus of the story. I probably hadn't seen this film in 25+ years and watching it after all that time felt exactly the same. I felt a certain amount of discomfort with the story and it wasn't very enjoyable. My five year-old son liked it, I suppose- but again, mostly due to the antics of Snoopy and Woodstock.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: A Charlie Brown Christmas; It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown