You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

What’s the Story?

Written by Charles Schulz in the year that George McGovern was challenging incumbent Richard M. Nixon for the presidency, YOU'RE NOT ELECTED, CHARLIE BROWN shows that some things in politics never change. Despite the title, it's actually Linus Van Pelt (voiced by Stephen Shea) who is running for student president at Birchwood School, with his pushy sister Lucy (Robin Kohn) as campaign manager. Between Lucy's intimidation techniques and some very funny help from Snoopy and Woodstock (in his first animated role), Linus has a chance to win the election. But even if he does, can he deliver on the promises he makes in his stump speech?

Is It Any Good?

As was true with most of Schulz' work, the DVD works on two levels. One is pure humor; even kids who don't care about the intricacies of polling and voting will be entertained by Snoopy in his "Joe Cool" persona, or Schroeder (Brian Kazanjian) turning a nominating speech into an ode to his hero Beethoven. But for older kids, it represents a chance to talk about whether there is any honesty left in the political process. Despite a mostly satirical tone, Schulz includes one moment of real integrity in the plot, and that is the one that lingers in the viewer's mind.

The 2008 remastered edition also includes He's a Bully, Charlie Brown, a 2006 television special that features Charlie Brown and the gang at summer camp. Joe Agate (Taylor Lautner) the camp bully, steals Reruns' (Jimmy Bennett) prize marble collection, and it's up to Charlie Brown to win them back.