Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"Play It Again, Charlie Brown" is a 24-minute cartoon from 1971, so this one is already almost half a century old and depending on when you read this review actually, it may have happened already. The names Melendez and Schulz make obvious that here we got another Peanuts cartoon of course, but this one is definitely not among their most known by any means. The reason may be that Schroeder is the center of focus here, together with his (very one-sided) sweetheart and that honestly the music component, as much as it may be in the center of it all here, is far from level of quality you'd want it to be. Charlie, his dog and the other more interesting (at least to me) characters here really do not get the screen time they deserve in my opinion, which is quite a pity to be honest and I would agree that the film's popularity, or lack thereof, matches the film's quality, even if it managed to get the Emmy nomination like so many other Peanuts works. Very unimpressive from start to finish and a failed attempt at making a Peanuts cartoon mostly focusing on music. There was potential for much more and this is among the very weakest from the series and I have seen them all at least one. Not recommended, unless you really are a huge fan of the gang.
mrturk182
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
tavm
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...
soymilk
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
