Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Reviews

• Unrequited Love is in the Air

  
  By A2I6MHMAZZDCRX on 2003-01-22
  Peanuts once again hits DVD with this collection of three animated specials focusing on love.

  The disc starts off with "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown," which first aired in 1975. Valentine's Day is coming, and the gang's getting excited. Charlie Brown is hoping for lots of Valentines this year. Linus has a crush on his teacher and buys her a box of chocolate which Sally thinks is for her. And in the middle of all this, Snoopy puts on a special Pawpet Theater show involving love. Frankly, I found this story to be a little depressing, even for Peanuts and was surprised that The Little Red Haired Girl didn't even get mentioned.

  Next comes 1967's "You're in Love, Charlie Brown." It's two days before school lets out for the summer, and Charlie Brown is trying to work up the nerve to talk to The Little Red Haired Girl. This is affecting every aspect of his life, leading to some embarrassing moments and potentially the worst last school day ever. This short was filled with the humor and warmth I usually associate with Peanuts.

  The final selection is "It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown," from 1977. Charlie Brown is shocked to learn that part of his duties during Homecoming is to dance with the Homecoming Queen after kissing her. And the queen is none other then The Little Red Haired Girl, whose name we learn is Heather. But first, he must do his job as punter in the homecoming football game. This would be easy, except guess who's holding the football! This sweet story brought a smile to my face with the ending.

  As with other Peanuts DVD's the three programs are the heart and sole of the disc. There is a computer game for another movie, and that's all. Still, the programs are ultimately what I bought it for. The picture is clear and sharp. The sound seems to have a bit of a problem, but only on the first show and only when Linus and Sally are speaking. Other wise, the sound is fine in all three.

  This disc will appeal to Peanuts fans of all ages. While the first program may not have as happy an ending as usual, the other two make up for it big time. I'd never seen these programs before buying the disc, but I intend to watch them for years to come.
  
  

• Traditional Seasonal Fun with the Peanuts gang

  
  By A23XVF23C7BHP0 on 2003-05-19
  This is fun. The best Peanuts cartoon by far is Charlie Brown's Christmas, but this is probably a close second. All the gang are here, Snoopy, Franklin, Pig-Pen, Schroeder, Lucy, Linus, Sally, and of course good ol' Charlie Brown.

  The story will be familiar to many youngsters. St. Valentine's Day has come round again and there is nothing in the post box for poor old Charlie Brown. No matter how many times he jumps up to that box, reaches inside, checks and re-checks, there is nothing in there for him. But the story does have a happy ending, and there is fun a-plenty along the way. Part of the charm of these stories is the way they're animated simply and with a laid back, complementary musical score. The children who provide the voices are all well cast and the action never flags.

  The DVD presentation is minimal. The film is not remastered, and needs some dirt and scratches cleaned as well as the (mono) soundtrack. There are NO special features, but the Studio has given us two supporting cartoons, neither of which are quite as good as Be My Valentine. Neither the voices nor animation quite hit the mark, but they're reasonably pleasant and justify the cost of a DVD more than if just one thirty minute animation had been included
  
  

• the Valentine's specials!

  
  By A2FEGRJQNU51P9 on 2004-03-15
  This DVD release has three classic Peanuts cartoon specials on it. All three were Valentine's Day related episodes. The episodes are "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown" (1975), "You're in Love, Charlie Brown" (1967), and "It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown" (1977). While the episodes vary in overall quality, it is always nice to have a collection of the Peanuts shorts.

  First on the disc is "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown", and this may be the one that most people are familiar with. It is almost Valentine's Day and everyone is looking forward to the day. Charlie Brown brings a briefcase with him to school because he believes this is the day that he will get mounds of valentine's cards. Linus buys a big box of chocolates for his teacher and hopes to give it to her. Sally is waiting for a valentine from Linus. Lucy wants one from Schroeder (who would presumably want one from Beethoven). The theme of Peanuts, unfortunately is unrequited love, so nobody gets what they want. Charlie Brown is so desperate for a valentine that he is willing to take a used card with the original name scratched out because Patty felt bad when nobody gave poor Charlie Brown a valentine. This is the best episode of the disc.

  The second episode is "You're in Love, Charlie Brown". This episode takes Charlie Brown on the last two days of the school year and he is trying to work up his nerve to talk to the Little Red Haired Girl. He talks to Linus and complains but he never can quite work up his nerve. Once again, we have the sadness of Charlie Brown not achieving his dreams, but the episode ends on a high note. When Charlie Brown finally decides that he is going to talk to the Little Red Haired Girl, he misses the opportunity in the press of students as school ends. But he finds a note in his hand when the students all pass that says "I Like You, signed, The Little Red Haired Girl". This one has its moments (Charlie Brown eating a peanut butter sandwich in disappointment is one), but overall it isn't quite as good as the first.

  The last episode is "It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown". This is the strangest episode of the three. The episode opens with a Homecoming Parade. Charlie Brown and Linus are on one of the floats and Charlie Brown asks what exactly they are doing as an escort. Linus tells him that their role is to escort the homecoming court at the dance and that Charlie Brown's date is the Queen. Charlie Brown looks over and realizes that the Homecoming Queen is the Little Red Haired Girl. Linus tells him that her name is Heather. Before the dance, though, is the Homecoming Football game. This takes up a rather large portion of the episode, and Charlie Brown is the kicker. Naturally Lucy repeatedly pulls the ball away before he can kick it (the old Peanuts gag). Every time Charlie Brown gets close to kicking it, the ball is pulled away and he lands flat on his back. Amazingly enough, every time this happens the entire team gets mad at Charlie Brown for missing the ball while ignoring the fact that Lucy clearly pulled the ball away in an important game! We come to the dance where Charlie Brown gets to lay the ceremonial first kiss on the cheek of the Queen and Charlie Brown's dreams come true. It is a nice sweet ending (especially the conversation with Linus at the very end) to a weird episode.

  This DVD is a nice chance to own three Valentine's specials on one disc. While I found these enjoyable, there is nothing like the magic of the first Christmas special here. Decent episodes, but nothing spectacular. Still, they are Peanuts and that is always a good thing.
  
  

• A triple heart collection - Love Peanut's style

  
  By A2B8GXSCB1R05T on 2003-02-11
  For sheer value, this is the best Peanuts holiday special released. 3 Animated specials on a single DVD, all sharing a common theme of love, although not all set during Valentine's Day. A much better bargain than the usual two special per DVD that has been the standard.

  Each holiday special has that Peanuts flair, with Charlie Brown being the Charlie Browniest of them all. His simple, misplaced optimism is constantly crushed by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Of course, the course of true love never did run smooth, especially if you are Charlie Brown. It is nice to watch all three specials in order, to see the round-headed kid finally win one for a change, but only after heaps of suffering.

  Snoopy gets some great moments in all three specials, with a classic "Paw-ppet show" and his bizarre helicopter ears, which looks much stranger animated than on the strip. He has a bit of WWI fighter pilot going on as well, which is a constant favorite.

  A great collection all around. I would love to see future Peanuts specials continue in the 3 specials per DVD mode.
  
  

• One excellent cartoon, two adequate ones

  
  By A11YV6VC51HJTV on 2003-02-13
  In terms of length, this is the best "Peanuts" DVD available -- three of the classic half-hour TV specials on one disc. Most of the others give you two. ("Pied Piper" gives you ONE, plus a 20-minute special about Charles Schulz.) In terms of content, these aren't the best of the Peanuts shorts, but they aren't terrible either.

  Our Feature Presentation, "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown," is easily the best of the three, with some of the gags taken directly from the comic strips. As Charles Schulz once said about his creation, all of the loves are unrequited -- Charlie Brown wants a Valentine, ANY Valentine, Sally wants one from Linus, Linus wants to show his love for his teacher -- all meet with the sort of misfortune that Schulz was famous for, tugging at your heartstrings and reminding you of the times in your life you've felt the same way. The climactic scene at the mailbox may be one of the best moments in any "Peanuts" cartoon.

  The other two shorts aren't nearly as good. "You're In Love, Charlie Brown," about ol' Chuck trying to work up the nerve to talk to the infamous Little Red-Haired Girl before school ends for the summer, is sweet, but not particularly memorable. "It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown," feels a little funky at times. The kids seem to be drawn slightly older than they should be, and perhaps that's intentional, since the fervor surrounding an elementary school football game that is the focus of this short seems completely off-the-wall.

  Still, the first cartoon makes this disc worthwhile. Besides, if you're like me, you've got every "Peanuts" DVD they've put out so far, and you're not about to start skipping them now.
  
  

• Three love stories about Chuck
  By A319SKSB556033 on 2005-02-14
  This love-themed Peanuts DVD features three TV specials about kisses, romance, broken hearts etc. The episodes are as follows...
  
  Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.
  
  No one seems to have a good time or find love in this Peanuts TV special. Charlie gets no Valentine cards, Linus misses out on his opportunity to give chocolates to his favorite teacher and Shroeder vows to never marry Lucy, much to her anger.
  
  It's kinda downbeat for a Valentine's TV special. So much so that kids from all over America sent Charlie Brown a Valentine's card out of sympathy. Which is quite sweet when you think about it. As long as they were all girls.
  
  Still, it's another funny and timeless TV special that you should definitely make the effort of watching if it comes on this Feb 14th. Though it might depress you if you yourself do not receive any Valentine's card.
  
  You're in Love, Charlie Brown
  
  Charlie is in love with 'the little red-headed girl', the very one he fancied in 'Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown'. But he's not got the courage to talk to her and frequently makes a laughing stock of himself with every attempt. Plus, everybody is making fun of him and Snoopy is not lending a sympathetic ear, as usual.
  
  The emotional turmoil Charlie suffers is alarmingly true. Everybody remembers their first crush and how awkward it made them feel. It's little touches of reality like this in the far-fetched but wonderful world of Peanuts that make it so timeless. Though it was made in 1967 there is nothing in this TV special that dates it in any way.
  
  It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown
  
  The last TV special featured on this DVD is a bit boring. Since I am not American, I have no idea what a homecoming queen is and I am not familiar with their football rules. This Peanuts TV special is mainly about both so I was a little bit lost for most of it.
  
  The story has Charlie Brown struggle (and unfairly lose) a football match and then finally get to meet his wannabe girlfriend (the little red-headed girl who finally see and is called Heather) at the Homecoming Ball (whatever that is). The build of dread as he approaches her is quite amusing and when he finally kisses her the reaction is brilliant. Too bad the rest of it is below par. Though the scenes with Woodstock pretending to be a TV cameraman and flying around on Snoopy (who's ear act as chopper blades) are typically surreal and undoubtedly the best moments.
  
  All are presented in 1.33:1 full frame as originally drawn with Dolby Mono sound. There are no extras.
  
  
• ...
  By A3RZNVN87W44WF on 2005-12-05
  This dvd is okay. I dont know, maybe Im just pickie, but the reason I say this dvd is okay is because the original voices arent used. Atleast the voices I remember growing up listening to. I dont know maybe its just me, but if the original voices I've grown up knowing were used, I'd given it 5 stars.
  
  
• A Pure Classic
  By A203YJ9QKU84UX on 2003-07-31
  This one's a no-brainer: it's a Peanuts holiday special so of course it's good. This one even has some good dramatic tension near the end between Schroeder and the girls who always pick on Charlie Brown that brings out all the pathos of Peanuts, and the way Charlie Brown cuts through the conflict you can't help but feel sorry for him. I'm docking this DVD release one star because it probably should've included the more recent Peanuts Valentine special that I believe originally aired in 2002, but now it may never be seen on any official release.

  UPDATE: The second Valentine special does have it's own DVD now: "A Charlie Brown Valentine."
  
  

• He Makes My Day...
  By A2C5VLIJMDPWHI on 2006-01-16
  Charlie Brown is one of the most vulnerable guys I've ever read/seen/heard about. I thought "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown" was so sad. He makes me want to give him a hug and a valentine. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown" was very cute about his first look at the Little Red-Haired Girl. "First Kiss" was an episode I'd never even heard of...and that one reminded me of the end of "40 Year Old Virgin"...lol. The Peanuts...gotta love 'em!
  
  
• You're In Love Charlie Brown is a Classic Peanuts Cartoon
  By A7Q1W04HT3EKS on 2006-05-07
  So, I don't know what you grew up with... If you lived childhood through the 80s, then you probably remember the Muppets very vividly. The Peanuts did not have a big presence except for maybe the Saturday cartoon which wasn't too popular. But, I do remember those specials for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Also, my parents gave me those read-along books on those small vinyl records. So, this story resonates strongly in my childhood. Now, if you still remember these books then you probably will find that "You're in Love Charlie Brown" to be the classic of the three shorts. The other valentine-themed stories are rehashed which I don't remember at all. These probably came out much later which you can tell in the drawings. I personally found that "You're in Love Charlie Brown" to have the best drawings that are true to Charles Schultz. The other shorts fall kinda flat and so do the storylines. But, it's better to get more shorts than just only 1 classic in my opinion.
  
  You probably can find these holiday-themed DVDs at your Target and Best Buys during the holidays. For the cost of about $10, you get a decent valued DVD which I don't regret buying. Just don't confuse this with the other similar title called "Charlie Brown Valentine". The covers look almost identical but read the back to find out what shorts are on it. Anyways, I think that over time, you will watch this DVD and smile about your own first crush in elementary school. This one is going to be the one where I watch and remember my kiss near the monkey bars during recess.
  
  

• It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (remastered deluxe edition)
• Peanuts - A Boy Named Charlie Brown
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Remastered Deluxe Edition)
• Snoopy, Come Home
• Peanuts Holiday Collection (A Charlie Brown Christmas/A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving/It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown)