A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
- Review Date: October 9, 2006
- Rated: NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Release Year: 1973
- Running Time: 25 minutes
Common Sense Media says
Classic turkey-day special for young and old.
- Review Date: October 9, 2006
- Rated: NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Release Year: 1973
- Running Time: 25 minutes
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving gallery
What parents need to know
Violence & scariness
Sexy stuff
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this DVD pairs A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with an animated feature about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving feast. Also starring the Peanuts gang, The Mayflower Voyagers doesn't quite capture the whimsy of earlier Charlie Brown specials, but its historical tale should still interest older kids.
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What's the story?
In this popular animated special created by Charles M. Schultz, Charlie Brown (voiced by Todd Barbee) finds himself hosting a Thanksgiving meal for his friends. At first, the characters are ambivalent and somewhat negative about the holiday. But thanks to some philosophical words from Linus (Stephen Shea) and Marcie, the Peanuts gang comes to realize the true meaning of the holiday.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
Nobody does holidays quite like the Peanuts gang, and A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING is no exception. Stumped over what to serve his friends for Thanksgiving dinner, Charlie Brown whips up a few tried-and-true recipes, including buttered toast, popcorn, and pretzel sticks. In a fun kitchen scene, Snoopy "conducts" the food preparation to Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy," probably the most well-known and well-loved Peanuts tune. Snoopy steals the show again when he and Woodstock set the Thanksgiving table and later when they don pilgrim-style costumes.
Released in 1988, The Mayflower Voyagers (the second feature on the DVD) strays somewhat from the simplicity that made its predecessors so endearing, but it's still educational. The animated special follows the pilgrims -- including Charlie Brown and friends -- as they journey to the New World in 1620. It does a good job of depicting the perilous Mayflower voyage, as well as the challenges of settling in a new land.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the real meaning of Thanksgiving -- how it's not just about turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. How did the Peanuts gang learn that lesson in this story? What will you be thankful for this Thanksgiving?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | November 20, 1973 |
| DVD release date: | September 12, 2000 |
| Cast: | Jimmy Ahrens, Stephen Shea, Todd Barbee |
| Directors: | Bill Melendez, Phil Roman |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Topics: | Friendship, Holidays |
| Run time: | 25 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
| MPAA explanation: | Not Rated |
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QUALITY
Must See Thanksgiving TV
My family watches this every year; in fact, it's the kids who ask to see it. The Snoopy/folding chair scene still cracks me up! As far as the use of "blockhead", "idiot", etc., keep in mind when this movie was made. While kids still use these words to each other today, you won't find these sorts of phrases in most of today's gentler cartoons. However, their use in this show makes a good talking point about how mean the words sound and how they hurt Charlie Brown. It also helps to make his (Charlie Brown's) character more sympathetic, and makes him easier to connect with than most other cartoon characters.
What other families should know
Great role models
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QUALITY
Mayflower Voyagers not for young children
We watched both A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and the Mayflower Voyagers with our 3-year old. The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was wonderful, but we were very upset when watching the Mayflower Voyagers after reading on the back that this was "suitable for all ages." I expected a typical Peanuts movie, but instead we got a factual history lesson on the death tolls and starvation of children on the Mayflower. These were not just quickly mentioned, but death and impending death was the main content of the film. This may be a good history lesson for kids over 10, but deffinately not for younger kids!!
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much swearing
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QUALITY
Great classic, hold the Mayflower till their older
My kids and I love this Charlie Brown, eventhough there are words they can't use like "Stupid", "Dumb", "Blockhead", "Hate", and basic name calling. My kids know this and my youngest states "We can't use that word." All in all, these have good messages. However, the Mayflower episode afterwards is better suited for my 9-year-old. Too many scary scenes, and talk of people dying, etc.-- people falling overboard in a storm, etc.
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Educational value
Great role models
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