Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!)
Alright fellow tape travellers, let's rewind to a time when seeing the Peanuts gang embark on an international escapade felt genuinely exotic. Forget the baseball diamond and the little red-haired girl for a moment; 1980's Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!) packed our favourite blockhead, Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock off to France, offering a feature-length adventure with a surprisingly different flavour than the usual TV specials we knew and loved.
### An Unexpected Itinerary
The premise alone felt like a departure. Charlie Brown and Linus are chosen as exchange students, heading off to the land of croissants and existentialism (okay, maybe not the latter for Chuck). Tagging along, naturally, are Peppermint Patty and Marcie, plus the ever-resourceful Snoopy and Woodstock. What starts as a seemingly straightforward trip quickly veers into intriguing territory involving a mysterious letter, a secluded chateau, and a history lesson that feels slightly more grown-up than Lucy pulling away the football. Directed by the veteran Peanuts animator Bill Melendez (the man behind nearly all the beloved specials) and Phil Roman (who would later give us Garfield specials), the film retains that unmistakable Peanuts visual charm, but expands the canvas considerably.
Remember the standard Peanuts locales? The neighbourhood streets, the schoolyard, the skating rink? Bon Voyage trades those familiar haunts for bustling French airports, charming villages, and, most memorably, the imposing Château du Mal Voisin ("Chateau of the Bad Neighbor"). This wasn't just Lucy's psychiatric booth relocated; it was a genuine change of scenery that felt quite grand on the small screen back in the day. Seeing Snoopy navigate French café culture or Woodstock battling a formidable housecat felt both hilarious and strangely sophisticated.
### A Hint of Mystery, A Dash of History
What really sets Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown apart is the central mystery surrounding the chateau and its inhabitants. Linus receives cryptic correspondence inviting Charlie Brown to the chateau, only to find they are decidedly unwelcome upon arrival. This unfolds into a story involving a young French girl, Violette, and her guarded Baron uncle. There’s even a touch of wartime backstory, inspired, fascinatingly enough, by creator Charles M. Schulz’s own experiences serving in France during World War II. He drew upon memories of places he'd been and feelings he'd had, lending an unexpected layer of personal history to the narrative. It adds a shade of melancholy and intrigue that you simply didn't find in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
The voice work, as always with classic Peanuts, is provided by actual children, giving it that irreplaceable authenticity. Arrin Skelley notably pulls double duty, voicing both Charlie Brown and providing Snoopy's emotive sounds (a role he shared with director Melendez across many specials), while Daniel Anderson captures Linus's gentle intelligence, and Laura Planting delivers Peppermint Patty's signature confident rasp. Their natural, unpolished deliveries are a huge part of the Peanuts magic, making the gang feel less like cartoon characters and more like kids we actually knew.
### More Than Just a Holiday Special
While perhaps not reaching the box office heights of major studio animations (it was the fourth Peanuts theatrical film, and the last until 2015's The Peanuts Movie), Bon Voyage carved out its own niche. It wasn't just another holiday special stretched thin; it felt like a proper movie, with higher stakes (a chateau fire!) and a more complex emotional landscape. It tackled themes of loneliness, suspicion, and cultural differences, albeit filtered through the gentle Peanuts lens. Some found the pacing a little leisurely compared to slam-bang action fare, but for fans, it was a chance to spend more time with these beloved characters on a bigger, bolder adventure.
The animation might look simple by today's standards, but the hand-drawn artistry holds immense nostalgic appeal. The way Snoopy commandeers a Citroën 2CV, the atmospheric rendering of the misty French countryside, the imposing silhouette of the chateau – it all has a distinct, handcrafted feel that warms the retro-loving heart. I distinctly recall renting this one, perhaps expecting the usual slice-of-life vignettes, and being genuinely drawn into the mystery plot. It felt different, special, a passport to a Peanuts world slightly outside the comfort zone.
Overall: Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!) is a charming and unique entry in the Peanuts filmography. It bravely steps outside the established formula, offering a gentle mystery wrapped in a European travelogue. While it retains the core warmth and character humour we expect, the slightly more serious undertones and historical echoes give it a surprising depth. It might not be the first Peanuts adventure that springs to mind, but it's a rewarding journey well worth revisiting.
Rating: 7.5/10
This score reflects its unique ambition within the Peanuts universe, the undeniable charm, and the nostalgic value of seeing the gang on a grander stage. It doesn't quite hit the iconic heights of the best holiday specials, and the pacing might test some modern attention spans, but its heart and unique flavour make it a standout.
Final Thought: A lovely, slightly melancholic postcard from the Peanuts gang's overseas adventures – a reminder that even good ol' Charlie Brown could have surprisingly sophisticated travels tucked away on those well-worn rental shelves.