Charlie Brown and the gang learn the true meaning of Thanksgiving after Peppermint Patty boldly arranges for everyone to celebrate the holiday at Charlie's house. The story originally aired on television and like the other animated Peanuts specials, features a toe-tapping, wistful score by Vince Guaraldi and his trio. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
liked it.
If A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is not in quite the same league as the classic
A Charlie Brown Christmas, it is still a first-rate special for children and the legions of fans of the popular comic strip upon which it is based.
Thanksgiving features a strong premise -- that the irrepressible Peppermint Patty has invited herself and two friends over to Charlie Brown's house for Thanksgiving dinner, in spite of the fact that Charlie Brown is supposed to have dinner at his grandmother's. This allows the creators to draw upon the familiar characteristics that define the characters, from Charlie Brown's wishy-washy passivity to Linus' logical thinking to Peppermint Patty's aggressive, yet appealing, demeanor. Thus,
Thanksgiving is more about character and gags than plot, and that's just fine. Although the animation is just slightly below par for the series, there is the usual fine work with Snoopy and Woodstock. Overall,
Thanksgiving exhibits the same blend of charm, whimsy, and tenderness -- with just a dash of insight -- that marks the best entries in the series. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide