Review of A Charlie Brown Christmas

'A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)' feels decidedly contemporary, taking a relatively unexpected approach to its material by focusing on a depressed Charlie Brown as he grapples with the disparity between how he's feeling and how everyone tells him he should be feeling around the holidays. The short isn't bleak, but it has a really melancholic undertone - or, perhaps, overtone - and its vibe is a little strange overall. Still, it has plenty of smile-inducing moments, which mainly arise thanks to the frankness and beyond-their-years nature of most of the characters. It ends on a hopeful note of overtly religious Christmas cheer, which is a bit of a surprise considering how divorced the season is from its 'birth of Jesus' roots in most mainstream media. It's interesting to see that even back in 1965 there was a sense that the holiday was too commercial for its own good, something which is only more pertinent today and is yet another reason that this has remained such an enduring Christmas classic. The piece is really enjoyable and interesting overall, with a cute aesthetic and convincing voicework. Its approach to the material is distinct and its message is nice, if a little heavy-handed.