Voices of Chad Allen, Jeremy Miller, Kristie Baker, and Melissa Guzzi
Directed by Bill Melendez and Sam James
Music by Desiree Goyette; Lyrics by Ed Bogas
Let's join the Peanuts in one of their few full musical specials to celebrate the end of 2023. Though The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show only lasted about a year on Saturday morning, the holiday shows continued to be institutions in prime-time. This would be their last holiday special until 1992, and the second to last one on CBS. How does Charlie Brown's difficult New Year look nowadays? Let's begin at school the day before Christmas vacation begins and find out...
The Story: Charlie Brown (Allen) is horrified when he's given the massive War and Peace to read over Christmas break for a book report. He's constantly distracted by the preparations for Peppermint Patty's (Baker) New Year's Eve party, including a dance lesson. He does somehow manage to invite the Little Red Haired Girl, but Peppermint Patty thinks he's her date. Meanwhile, Sally (Elizabeth Lyn Fraser) wishes her "sweet baboo" Linus (Miller) would ask her, and Lucy (Guzzi) tries to get Schroder's (Aron Mandelbaum) attention away from him playing the music at the party.
The Animation: Pretty similar to all of the Peanuts specials, and most Saturday morning cartoons from this time. Admittedly, some of the backgrounds look nifty, especially when they get to the party and the kids are decorating. The characters move relatively well and look like their comic strip counterparts at the time, which is really all this franchise needs.
The Song and Dance: One of the better Peanuts specials of the 1980's. There's some great gags with Charlie's attempts to read War and Peace, and especially how he tries getting around it early on. Peppermint Patty also has some funny moments when she gets Charlie to the dance studio, and there's his attempt to ask the Little Red Haired Girl out.
Favorite Number: "Slow, Slow, Quick Quick" is most of the lyrics for the song heard when the kids take their dance lesson at the studio. The melody still manages to be catchy as Peppermint Patty whirls Charlie around the floor. Patty also sings "Musical Chairs" when the kids play that game during the party. The song is so catchy that the kids are often still dancing along when the music stops. The traditional "Auld Lang Syne" comes in at midnight, as the kids all sing along...except for Charlie, who is sleeping outside.
What I Don't Like: The whole thing with the book report annoys me. Who the heck gives kids who aren't more than 11 a book that many adults can't get through to do a report on? The slightly episodic structure lacks some of the heart of earlier, more story-oriented entries like A Charlie Brown Christmas.
The Big Finale: One of the more underrated Peanuts specials is worth checking out with the kids before the ball drops on New Year's Eve.
Home Media: Easily found on DVD with I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown, and on Apple TV with a subscription.
And here's hoping all of my readers have a happy and healthy 2024!
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