Common Sense Media Review
By Common Sense Media
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Less-than-stellar Peanuts gang adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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?
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
- In theaters : May 30, 1980
- On DVD or streaming : May 21, 2001
- Cast : Arrin Skelley , Bill Melendez , Laura Planting
- Director : Phil Roman
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 76 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : General Audiences
- Last updated : June 5, 2024
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