Play It Again, Charlie Brown

Lucy thinks she's found a way for Schroeder to like her when she gets him a gig at the PTA show at the school but Peppermint Patty tells her something that she knows Schroeder wouldn't be crazy about. I'll stop there and just say that this was another "Peanuts" special that I highly enjoyed watching a few years ago having been one of the few I didn't catch as a kid growing up in the 70s and 80s. It happened to be during a few months after director Bill Melendez died and when I originally submitted this, it was dedicated to him. He knew so well how to put Charles Schulz' vision in animated form with great help from Vince Guaraldi's music score. I won't mention any more except just seek out Play It Again, Charlie Brown on YouTube or anywhere if you're in the mood...

I remember seeing this when it first aired and was sorely disappointed. After several years and seven wonderful specials, PIACB fell far short of the mark the previous shows had established.

The charm of Peanuts is seeing the real world through children's eyes. But in this special, some of the humor and plot points depend on things coming in spray cans; for example, PTA meetings. Huh? Not only is that not funny, it's supernatural, something that does not belong in Charlie Brown's world.

Also, this was the first time we hear actual adult voices, as opposed to the muted trombone sound effect. It's almost as if the 4th wall was being blown to bits. Suddenly we are no longer in the world of kids; the adults have invaded.

The other major thing wrong was the use of rock music in the soundtrack. Up to now, Vince Guaraldi's outstanding jazz scores gave Charlie Brown a dynamic, signature sound that everyone could quickly identify. To replace that with rock borders on sacrilege.

Maybe they wanted to try something new. Well, to me it didn't work. Why mess with success?

I know I'm in a significant minority here, but if I had to single out the one definitive 'Charlie Brown' special that I personally love more than any other, I wouldn't think twice about going for this one. Obviously it doesn't have any of the 'holiday classic' appeal that elevated the likes of 'it's the Great Pumpkin' and 'a Charlie Brown Christmas' into annual syndication and the hearts of thousands - but it can be judged on its own merits, and it's simply a lovely, gentle and very enjoyable little cartoon that focuses on the ambiguous relationship between two of the most memorable supporting characters: Lucy and Schroeder. Pre-occupied Schroeder is content just to sit at his toy piano all day, chiming out tributes to his idol Beethoven, while lovesick Lucy, taking a well-earned break from undermining the self-esteem of the other kids in the neighbourhood, longs to pry his attention away in her direction, but only winds up making a nuisance of herself on every occasion. In desperation, she turns to Peppermint Patty for advice, who comes up with a near-perfect solution - only trouble is, it comes attached with an uneasy moral dilemma for Schroeder. Like most 'Peanuts' specials (the earlier ones in particular) it never talks down to its audience, and manages to deliver a wonderful message that can be respected by kids and adults alike. It's about staying true to your personal principles and not feeling that you have to compromise them for the sake of convention, done in a light-hearted and genuine tone, and you have to admire the conclusion that Schroeder himself comes to. This cartoon confirms my theory that he may just be the most rational and potentially prosperous member of the Peanuts gang. He's a kid who'll go places in his adult life, mark my words.

It's all combined with the dry, melancholic 'Peanuts' humour that has you smiling no matter what your age, the ingenious blending of adult philosophy with a child's-eye perspective, and some truly delightful set-pieces, particularly the three-man musical act from Charlie Brown, Pig Pen and, of course, everyone's favourite black-and-white beagle, Snoopy. Not everything about it is entirely timeless (I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that the 'spray can' gags would have seemed a little more relevant in the early 70s when this first debuted, and Lucy's 'saucepan' comments may have a few eyebrows raising), but they're pretty small fry compared to the narrative beauty that dominates this tale. Plus, you have to love any 'Peanuts' special that succeeds in capturing the softer, more helpless side to the usually very mean-spirited Lucy.

Get over the scrappy animation quality (which is the only thing this loses marks for), and love it for the many, many things it does right. Like the classical music Schroeder so lovingly plays throughout, it's mellow, relaxing and has a certain appeal that doesn't diminish with time. 'Peanuts' specials just don't get any lovelier.

Grade: A

This one is a lot more centered around young piano prodigy, Schroeder. He spends a lot of time playing in the style of Beethoven, which attracts a few of his friends, especially Lucy. Since Schroeder has never returned the same feelings she has for him, Lucy tries to win him over by having him play at the PTA meeting. The catch is, he has to perform rock music in a band with Charlie Brown, Pigpen and Snoopy. Though the Peanuts rarely make pop culture references, this special has some clever commentary about musicians selling out in order to achieve wide recognition, and Schroeder decides to stick to his guns in the end. It's a lesson that still feels relevant with today's music industry.

Score: 76/100

Seventh animated special based on the Charles M. Schulz cartoon strips is also the first aired during the 1970's, and is about Lucy's infatuation with Schroder, but he only loves Beethoven, until Lucy decides to enroll him in the PTA music show, but only if he'll play modern music, something he refuses to do, despite Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Pig Pen already seeming quite capable of going on without him... Strange special is one of the weakest, with a flimsy plot and inconsistent characterizations(since when can poor talentless Charlie play an instrument? Did he take lessons?) Goofy comedy with spray can music and PTA members is cringe-worthy. Entirely forgettable.