Too much of everything

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

"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.

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

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?

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.