Parents' Guide to

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back)

By Common Sense Media, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Less-than-stellar Peanuts gang adventure.

Movie G 1980 76 minutes
Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 7 parent reviews

Spider2003
Spider2003 Adult
February 25, 2023
age 5+

Bon Voyage Charlie (And Don't Come Back!!) Movie Review By Logan Strohl

One of the funniest Peanuts movies out there. It was the also first Peanuts movie that we see and hear adults talk on screen. Story is great and so is everything else in it. Perfect for the whole family and Peanuts fans as well.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
JonDan22
JonDan22 Parent of 8 and 12-year-old
November 26, 2022
age 7+

This movie is very good.

(Written by 8yo boy) - Not a typical Charlie Brown movie. It has action, danger, and some scenes are funny. I've always been a fan of Peanuts - it's a good series. And this lives up to all of the shows. I really liked the story.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BON VOYAGE, CHARLIE BROWN, the Peanuts gang are invited to be exchange students in a small town in France. Charlie Brown, Linus, and Snoopy move into the Chateau of the Bad Neighbor, while Peppermint Patty and Marcy stay with Pierre. He warns them about the Baron, the Chateau's owner, who's feared by everyone in the neighborhood. Poor Charlie Brown and Linus are forced to sleep outside in a thunderstorm, and are threatened by the sinister Baron who's willing to go to any length to get rid of them. They're also trapped in a raging fire, while Snoopy capers about with an old fashioned fire engine.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (3):

Rural France has never seemed more threatening than when seen through the eyes of Charlie Brown and friends in this peculiar feature length film. This is a xenophobe's vision of rural France, a story that won't reassure younger viewers about life abroad. Older kids may not find it very entertaining.

There are some funny moments here, especially when Marcy prattles on in what appears to be highly colloquial French. Unfortunately for the audience, her dialogue isn't subtitled, so kids may have a hard time understanding her. Peppermint Patty's misunderstanding of Pierre's interest is amusing, too. Snoopy turns up in various crowd-pleasing disguises, as well, but the story remains too strange and scary for its intended audience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what a stereotype is and why films use them. Did the film really show what France, and French people, are like?

  • How did the story benefit from stereotypes? How could it have been better if there were less stereotyping?

Movie Details

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