Instead of the earnest adult-like children, we get an attempt at early-70s hip wisecracking. Further severely dating the show to 1973 is the soundtrack, typified by the horrid jazzy blues vocal number "Little Birdy" and a fight snoopy has with an animated lawn chair (segment is total filler).

The voiceovers are distracting too. Although, the actors who did the Christmas and Halloween specials were certainly well into adolescents by the time the Thanksgiving special was made, there was not even an attempt to retain any similarity when hiring the new actors (with the exception of Linus, who was voiced by the brother of the kid who did the Christmas and Halloween specials). They also sound a bit older and (perhaps as a result?)are much more wooden in their delivery.

That being said, there aren't very many Thanksgiving specials out there and it does give a short history of the holiday. It will certainly give the kids something to watch for 25 minutes during halftime.

But if you are expecting the sincerity and magic of the Christmas and Halloween specials, you will be disappointed.


Gobble Gobble, Charlie Brown. ;)   November 27, 2003
Pamela Scarangello (Middletown, NJ USA)
1973's "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" is an adorable, animated classic that makes me want to eat popcorn, toast, and jellybeans every year! It's one of the few holiday treats that suit older audiences as well as younger ones.
Here's the basic synopsis: Peppermint Patty invites herself, Marcie, and Franklin to Charlie Brown's house for a wholesome Thanksgiving dinner. The problem: Charlie has to go to his Grandmother's house at 4:30. AND he doesn't know anything about cooking a turkey and cranberry sauce. With the help of Linus, Snoopy, and little Woodstock, Charlie tries to make meals for Patty and her guests, only to realize that food alone isn't thankful...his friends and family are. Watch out for Snoopy, the Peanut Gang's favorite dog! In this feature, he wrestles with a beach chair, puts a tablecloth on a pool table, and marches in Pilgrim garb!
This is a DVD I highly recommend, as well as "The Great Pumpkin" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas."


AN HONEST-TO-GOD CLASSIC   November 25, 2003
D. Mart (Mountain View, CA)
Yes, you read correctly: three stars. Not five. Why, might you ask? Am I crazy? No, I am not. At least I don't think I am :)

I am a huge fan of Peanuts. Every year, I look forward to the holiday specials on television. A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING is one of them. Yet, I must admit: much like IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN and IT'S THE EASTER BEAGLE, CHARLIE BROWN, this show is kind of dated. I do still love it -- the characters and classic Peanuts gags we have all come to cherish. Not to mention having a great storyline. But truth be told, the timing between most of the dialogue is very very very offbeat (example: towards the beginning, when Charlie Brown, Linus and Sally are conversing on the sidewalk, they sound like robots; and their timing is way off. During one instance, Linus stops talking, and there is a two or three second pause before Sally starts yelling. I mean, it's like, "Where did that come from?" LOL)).

And Peppermint Patty's voice -- that's just annoying.

Yet I still love them. There is just something about these shows that we can all relate to again and again. Yes, the later films, tv shows and specials are all better drawn, and the timing is a lot better; and some have a much smoother feel.

But these, I think, contain a certain nostalgic feeling. And that's why they are "classics."

I realize that some fans may be angry with this review; that I am somehow insulting Charles Schulz. But, you know what? I am sure even he would agree, if he saw the Thanksgiving show now, that, say, episodes from his mastefully done Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show or the NASA special is more smooth-flowing and the timing is better.

Before you click "no" under this review, watch the Thanksgiving show again. You'll see what I mean by boring pauses in between much of the dialogue.

I am not being mean here. I love Charles Schulz, and am just being perfectly honest about how I feel. And while A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING is a true, honest-to-God classic, it is not one of the greatest holiday specials ever made.


Holiday Tradition for me   November 9, 2003
Looking forward to watching this on TV--
I love that song- "Little Birdie"- and Charlie Brown's
jellybean, toast, popcorn, dinner- !!!
I just watch this not nitpicking everything-
so I really think it is good as Charlie Brown Christmas,
and Great Pumpkin-so not alot for me to comment on....
Actually my favorite is neither of the Holiday Specials
above, but "There's No Time For Love Chuck"!!!


Lots of fun, and a double feature!   January 2, 2003
Tammy L. Schilling (MD)
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving has all the fun that you normally expect of a Charlie Brown movie. You get to see Peppermint Patty invite herself and several friends to Charlie Brown's house for Thanksgiving, and then watch him flounder about trying to deal with it. The result is a dinner of junk food ala carte.

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving DVD also comes with a second feature, Voyage of the Mayflower. This is a really great little flick that presents the Charlie Brown characters as participants in the pilgrim's voyage to the new world, their struggle to survive, and the first Thanksgiving. Parents may appreciate the educational aspects of this flick, as well as enjoy it's excellent quality.

Between the two features, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is definitely value for money. Another great feature, because the features are only 30 minutes, they can work as a great stop-gap to occupy a child for a brief period (such as while you are finishing dinner and they are getting fidgety), without having to cut short a full length movie.