Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 4+
Classic Peanuts fare stands the test of time.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the 2016 rerelease of Charlie Brown's All Stars! celebrates the 50th anniversary of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts television special, which first aired on June 8, 1966. With its classic humor and its relevant messages about making difficult choices and setting priorities, this 25-minute film will still delight and have meaning for young audiences. The story turns on the ups and downs of Charlie Brown's baseball team, made up of five boys, three girls, and a dog. The remainder of the DVD, approximately 50 minutes in length, is a collection of individual vignettes starring members of the Peanuts gang and covers a variety of topics and experiences, which aired as A Charlie Brown Celebration on May 24, 1982. All are kid-friendly, character-rich, and very funny and have lost none of their relevance. Some of the traditional insults fly Charlie Brown's way (i.e., "blockhead," "stupid"). Cartoon action is confined to a few falls, bonks on the head, and some "daring" rescues by chief rescuer Snoopy. One cartoon focuses on Charlie Brown in a hospital stay and may be briefly worrisome to very young or super-sensitive kids, but our hero is never in any danger and he fully recovers. Appropriate for all ages.
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Products & Purchases
some
Rerelease of early Peanuts films. Part of the extensive franchise that markets toys, games, books, apps, and related merchandise.
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Language
very little
Traditional Peanuts insults, i.e., "blockhead," "stupid," "weird."
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Violence & Scariness
none
Some minor cartoon falls and bonks.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Central story focuses on sometimes making hard choices, standing up for what you believe is right, setting priorities that take others' feelings into account. Among other values: counting blessings, being loyal, keeping promises, working on self-confidence.
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Positive Role Models
a lot
Not only does Charlie Brown give up something he really wants to protect his friends, he further preserves their feelings by taking the blame when it really isn't his fault. This community of kids (who humorously manifest adult behavior in many instances) make mistakes and sometimes learn from those mistakes. They exhibit varying degrees of loyalty, empathy, vulnerability, and an ability to laugh at themselves. No ethnic diversity.
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Educational Value
none
Meant to entertain and connect with kids, not to educate.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Charlie Brown's All Stars!
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What's the Story?
CHARLIE BROWN'S ALL STARS! finds Charlie Brown (voiced by Peter Robbins) in a very tight spot. After his team loses a game by a score of 123 to 1, his players are mad, threatening to quit, and very insulting. But things immediately begin to look up: Mr. Hennessy, owner of the hardware store, offers not only to sponsor Charlie Brown's team in a real league, but he'll also supply them with their own uniforms. Everyone is ecstatic and back in the fold, especially Charlie Brown. That is, until he finds out that there are conditions attached to Mr. Hennessy's offer -- conditions that may be worse than losing 123 to 1. What's a team manager to do? Thrill most of the members of the team by breaking the hearts of others? The remainder of this DVD is A Charlie Brown Celebration, a collection of vignettes of varying lengths, specifically produced for this TV special that aired in 1982, 16 years after Charlie Brown's All Stars. All the members of the Peanuts gang have moments that involve school, camp, relationships, a bit of romance, and the wisdom of Charles M. Schulz.
Is It Any Good?
Charming, resonant, funny, and with Charles Schulz' unique wisdom, this early collection treats fans old and new to the timelessness of the characters and their relatable experiences and feelings. The central story, Charlie Brown's All Stars!, offers a multidimensional look at the hapless hero, with a sensibility regarding discrimination against girls that was rare for the 1960s and a resolution that is enduring and thought-provoking. The jazzy score by Vince Guaraldi, which works wonderfully well in tandem with the Peanuts theme music, deserves a special shout-out. This 50th-anniversary video is a tribute to an innovative, talented man and remains a gift for kids of all ages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Charlie Brown turned down Mr. Hennessey's offer of a real baseball league and uniforms in Charlie Brown's All Stars! What was he willing to give up for his friends? Why did he choose not to tell them the whole story? Do you agree with his choices?
These movies were made long before computers, cell phones, and texting were part of daily life. How might technology change these stories and these relationships? Do you see advantages to putting away screens and keyboards? How can kids balance technology with person-to-person interaction? Try to imagine what Charles M. Schulz might have thought about today's all-consuming interest in electronics.
Some of the kids wanted to quit the team because they lost every game. Is quitting a good problem-solving technique? Why, or why not? In this case, what could they have done to make the situation better?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 4, 2016
- Cast : Peter Robbins, Sally Dryer, Christopher Shea
- Director : Bill Melendez
- Inclusion Information : Latino directors, Mexican directors
- Studio : Warner Bros. Animation
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Sports and Martial Arts, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy, Integrity
- Run time : 74 minutes
- MPAA rating : NR
- Last updated : February 26, 2022
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Charlie Brown's All Stars!
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