Review of A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) by Catherine S — 24 Dec 2010

Simple but meaningful, A Charlie Brown Christmas doesn't have the bells and whistles of other Christmas films, but what it does have is charm, nostalgia, and the heart that many Christmas films forget to add.

Charlie Brown "isn't really in the Christmas mood", as he feels unloved and underappreciated. To help him cope with the feeling, Lucy allows him to be the director of the Christmas pageant at the school. It's clear however that Charlie Brown is not an ideal director as he's ignored and disapproved by the other kids. He goes out to bring a Christmas tree, but chooses the smallest tree at the lot, resulting in a multitude of insults and teasing by the other kids. At the height of his depression, Linus finally teaches Charlie what the true meaning of Christmas is.

If we looked at it with a technical view, this isn't the best animated film ever. The animation is a little stunted, but that's not the point. I think we can all relate to Charlie Brown at some point or another, but in this movie he comes up as a winner. This film also points out how commercialized Christmas has become, and reminds everyone of how it started, and Linus' speech still resonates in many a mind, as he tells the story of Jesus Christ.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is beautifully done with the utmost of simplicity that brings Christmas classics to their roots, before the time that our attention required explosions and shiny effects. The heart and overall well meaning of the film will melt your heart and it reminds us of what Christmas is really about. (Real rating: 100%).