Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown

Plot synopsis:
The Peanuts gang heads off to Camp Remote somewhere in the mountains. Charlie Brown is accidentally left behind by the bus while at a desolate rest stop. He is then forced to hitch a harrowing ride on Snoopy's motorcycle in order to make the rest of the journey to the camp, accompanied by rock guitar type riffs while he is shouting in fear at Snoopy's wild driving.
Upon their arrival, the kids are immediately exposed to the regimentation and squalor of camp life which is a stark contrast to their comfortable residences back home. They are unfamiliar with the concept that the camp schedule is in the 24-hour clock (Franklin asks if "oh-five-hundred" is noon, and Sally thinks "eighteen-hundred" is a year). Although they do their best to adjust to the rigors of camp life, Snoopy, in a tent of his own, enjoys an ice cream sundae while watching TV on his portable set.
The gang must contend with a trio of ruthless bullies (and their cat, Brutus, vicious enough to intimidate even Snoopy and Woodstock) who openly boast of them having won a raft race every year they have competed. The only thing that keeps them at bay is Linus using his security blanket like a whip (which also gets him unwanted attention from Sally due to her praising the courage of her self-proclaimed "Sweet Babboo"). It is revealed that they have only won through outright cheating — using a raft equipped with an outboard motor, direction finder, radar and sonar. They also resort to every trick they could think of to hamper or destroy everyone else's chance to even make it to the finish line, much less win the race.
The kids are broken into three groups: the boys' group (consisting of Charlie Brown, Linus, Schroeder, and Franklin), the girls' group (consisting of Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Sally, and Lucy), and Snoopy and Woodstock. Charlie Brown is the very reluctant leader of the boys' group, struggling with his insecurity but making a good effort to lead and implement well-thought out decisions. His anthesis is Peppermint Patty, the leader of the girls' group, who is very confident despite her incompetence as a leader. She insists on every decision, no matter how inconsequential, being confirmed by a vote of secret ballots. Predictably, when the voting is tied or she disagrees with the outcome, she often overrules the decision, to the disdain of the other girls. The bullies are overconfident; they use their cheating to burst ahead, but in their boasting they fail to watch where they are going and crash into a dock, which costs them a lot of time and effort to dislodge their boat while the others sail past.
The groups see many unique sights along the river race, such as mountains, forests, and a riparian logging community of houses built on docks. However, they also run into different obstacles: getting lost, stranded, storms, blizzards, and sabotage from the bullies. Snoopy abandons the race to search tirelessly for Woodstock when a storm separates them; after a long search, they manage to find each other and are joyfully reunited. Charlie Brown grows increasingly into his leadership role; ultimately, after the bullies sabotage both the boys' and girls' rafts, Charlie is asked to be leader of both groups — only to find himself treated more as a scapegoat than a leader.
Thanks to Charlie Brown's growing self-confidence and leadership, the gang is about to win the race at the climax after overcoming considerable odds. Unfortunately, Patty incites the girls to celebrate too soon and they accidentally knock the boys overboard in their excitement; when they attempt to rescue them, the bullies seize the opportunity to pull ahead.
The bullies gloat about their apparently imminent victory. However, their brash over-confidence, infighting, and constant carelessness during the race has seen them become involved in numerous mishaps, causing them to suffer substantial damage to their raft. Just shy of the finish line, their raft finally gives out and sinks. This leaves Snoopy and Woodstock as the only contenders left. Brutus slashes Snoopy's inner tube with a claw, but Woodstock promptly builds a raft of twigs with a leaf for a sail and continues toward victory. When Brutus tries to attack Woodstock, Snoopy decks him, and Woodstock wins the race. Conceding defeat, the bullies begin to vow vengeance next year, but their threats are humiliatingly cut short when Snoopy hands Brutus a rough beating after he threatens Woodstock again.
As the gang boards the bus to depart for home, Charlie Brown decides aloud to use the experience as a lesson to be more confident and assertive, and to believe in himself. Unfortunately, right after he finishes speaking, the bus leaves without him for the second time, and as before, he is forced to hitch a ride with Snoopy again.

Tags: psychedelic

Review:
Definitely the best Charlie Brown film ever.
As usual Peppermint Patty wants to be in control of everything, but this is a movie were everyone gets to do their bit.
In fact, one couldn't help but feel lonely as Charlie Brown spent the night studying in a big city in "A Boy Named Charlie Brown"; as Snoopy got kicked out of place after place in "Snoopy Come Home"; or as Charlie Brown and Linus encountered a dark, daunting chateau in "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown."And so it was great to see that for this movie, they decided to lighten it up.
Although there is a little of that in this movie, one remembers it more for the scenes of the Peanuts gang interacting and encountering fun/peril on the rapids or making the best of a bad situation while lost in the woods.
This one has more comedy and action than any of the other Peanuts movies, and it all makes for an enjoyable ride.Perhaps the best part of the movie is that fact that you finally get to see all the major members of the Peanuts gang play off of each other (the other movies each concentrated on a few of the characters).
It's hilarious!This is easily my favorite of the Peanuts movies, and, for me, one of the great examples of what kinds of great comedic/dramatic situations one can draw from a diverse cast of characters.
This film should be released on DVD, with commentary by Lee Mendleson and Bill Millendez, theatrical trailer, TV ads, and when you click on "play movie", you see the 70's "Our Feature Presintation" clip before the picture starts.
It's significantly less static than most other Charlie Brown films and programs such as The Great Pumpkin, even though it has been edited and is less static now.
This is a great movie for kids to watch because of it's character and originality.
In short I think this is one of the best family/kids movie I have ever seen and I'd recommend it to any fan of Charlie Brown movies.
Wonderful animation and a great story make for the best Peanuts feature ever produced.
This is the only Charlie Brown full length motion picture I have ever watched, but I believe I have seen it at least 20 times by now.
I caught it on Thanksgiving Day afternoon on channel 7 in Washington DC around 1983 or so, and have been compelled to stop and watch it every time I see it, ever since.The plot centers around the Peanuts gang going to a summer camp, where a group of punk kids and a nasty, mangy cat are intent on humiliating the other kids, and winning the raft race.
The Peanuts gang competes in the race, with the guys (Charlie Brown, Schroeder, Linus, and Franklin) sharing one raft, the girls (Lucy, Sally, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie) sharing another raft, and Snoopy and Woodstock having their own raft.
Of course, mishaps ensue and the gang ends up working together to defeat the bullies.This movie really has what a lot of real life movies don't have.
Snoopy rides in the abandoned tire, the debate over cold cereal for breakfast, Charlie Brown is promoted to leader of the gang but can't get a word in edgewise due to Peppermint Patty ("That's IT CHUCK!!!
Charlie Brown and the gang head to summer camp, where they run into a group of nasty bullies and their cat (which is the size of a bulldog).
They all compete in a big river raft race where our favorites run into lots of obstacles, including sabotage from the bullies.
Snoopy and Woodstock also get some amusing stuff to do but the boy characters, like Charlie Brown and Linus, have few memorable funny moments.
Charlie Brown does get to step up and be the hero in the end, and the scene where he stands up to pushy Patty was very awesome, but he doesn't get much in the humor department.
Charlie Brown specials and movies have always been a big part of my childhood, this film is another one of my favorite Charlie Brown films.The animation is great as usual because it stays true to the hand drawn style from the strip which is fine by me I wouldn't want it any other way.
From the amount of crap they dish out to Charlie Brown and the Pennuts gang it just makes you all the more want the Pennuts gang to win just to rightfully knock them off their butts.I really like how the film is somewhat different from the usual Pennuts specials we see because here this is an adventures.
It's interesting and a bit thrilling just seeing the Pennuts gang river rafting and getting though some pretty sticky situations along the way.As usual the stuff with both Snoopy and Woodstock is cute and great from seeing both of them ride wicked fast on a motorbike that looks like something from the film "Easy Rider".
Charlie Brown realizes how hard things have gotten which at times almost makes him cave into doubt as he sees only failure ahead, but as Rocky Baboa once said, "Life isn't about how hard you hit, it's about getting hit but keeping on coming up." and those words are true despite how hard things get they have to push on forward no matter what because it's really the only thing they can do as their survival depends on it and that's true about life itself.But also about friendship and stepping up when one should.
We like the Pennuts gang because they are individuals and winning isn't everything to them, in fact it's not their whole life; as we see in one scene their dancing in a cabin having fun together.Charlie Brown actually has a very good character arc and it's great when we finally see him step up, from the amount to crap he has to endure it then finally comes to the final straw.
It's sort of the old saying "Some days you just gotta say Frak This!" and that's what Charlie Brown does when he realizes certain things aren't working like the girls so called democratic system which doesn't amount to jack squat in wilderness survival.The only bad things for me about the film is Peperment Patty, in a way this film is kinda justifying why she's one of my least favorite characters in the Pennuts bunch.
sometimes and it really became a bit much in the film; sorry that sounds bold but oh man if you had to endure the bossiness, denseness in wilderness survival, let alone small sexism she spills out that could push anyone over the edge; though this was all the more reason I wanted Charlie Brown to step up and tell her who's the boss.
Another is that voting joke was really redundant after a while.Overall this was a very good Charlie Brown film, it's a ride worth taking.Rating: 3 and a half stars.
As a long time fan of Peanuts there is hardly a movie,TV show or special I don't like from them.
And Race for Your Life,Charlie Brown is no different the gang are heading to camp and it all leads to a Adventure for Charlie Brown,Lucy,Linus,Sally Snoopy and the gang This is easy one of my most favorite Peanuts movies I have good memories of this film from my childhood.
The animation is very strong and when you watch the Peanuts films you can always expect strong animation and this film has very well done animation I like how the animators took the time to focus on the art work to make sure it is up to the standardThe voice acting is very good and the writing has a lot of humor.
However there were some moments that I didn't think work for the movie but still The films does great there are a lot of twist in the film That you wouldn't expect to have in a peanuts movie but this one does it wellThe music is very good and it makes the story more interestingOverall I'm sure all Peanuts fans will enjoy this classic film and this is a very good movie I give Race for Your Life,Charlie Brown an 9 out of 10.
Typically cute, charming - if not inspired - Peanuts feature film sees the gang go to summer camp and participate in a sometimes hazardous raft race.
Charlie Brown (voice of Duncan Watson) is immediately targeted by a swaggering trio of bullies who won the race the past two years, but seemingly can't succeed without cheating.You can never really go wrong with Charles M.
There are enough pleasant and funny moments here to make "Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown" quite agreeable.
Now, not all of the humor quite worked for this viewer - the running gag about the girls always voting on things wears thin - but the traditional hand drawn animation is engaging, the subplot about Snoopy and Woodstock getting separated is rather touching, and it's nice to see Charlie Brown actually stand up for himself and, in general, be a stronger character than usual.One thing you definitely miss is the jazz style music that Vince Guaraldi would have provided, but his untimely death put the kibosh on that approach.
There are some very annoying songs that pop up, but they're over appreciably quickly.A straightforward story (with an endearing ending), a theme of people working together for the common good, decent laughs and thrills, and a funny gag involving Charlie Brown having to hitch a ride with Snoopy on the latters' motorcycle all help to make this nice entertainment for Peanuts fans.Seven out of 10..
"Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown" is the third of four feature-length movies based on the beloved comic strip "Peanuts" by the great Charles M.
It precedes "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and don't come back!!!) and follows "Snoopy, Come Home" and the marvelous, underrated classic "A Boy Named Charlie Brown." For the third film, the animation quality was taken down a notch, but the real charm of "Peanuts", the comic strip and the specials, was never in the visual look.
And this short and delightful little movie captures that effectively.A common recurring theme in the "Peanuts" universe is summer camp, where Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, and sometimes others go to the remote woods and uncover fall into challenges, predicaments, and situations, all to the amusement of the audience.
Charlie Brown and all of his pals are sent to summer camp and are pitted against a group of bullies and their rascally pet (I wasn't sure if it was a dog or a cat) in a river raft race.
The race consumes most of the movie's running time as Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and the others make their way through the wilderness and as usual, our round-headed protagonist, is trying to find a way to stand up for himself and prove that he's not a born loser.The story for "Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown" could have been done effectively in a half-hour short, as it very well may have been originally intended.
At times, for example, Linus's head would be of the appropriate proportion to his body, but at other times, it would seem to oversize itself.From an effective opening to a most effective ending, "Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown" is another example of the countless charm that rectifies Charles M.
I know many people are hesitant to watch children's features, especially if they are animated, but I had a really good time with the "Peanuts" gang.
The Peanuts gang go away for summer camp and are split into tents to compete against one another.
When the raft race comes each tent is out to win no matter what.I like Peanuts the strip even if it is more melancholy than funny at times.
The voices are pretty much as you'd expect them to be but the animation seems very basic at times and doesn't seem too large a step away from the strip.Laughs are few but the overall feel of the film is similar to the feel of the strip.
Snoopy rules and his sidekick Woodstock isn't that bad either, why these were often named with Charlie Brown in the title I don't know - they should have all been just Snoopy cartoons and kept the rest of the gang out of it.
Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown was the third feature film that starred the Peanuts gang.
As you may have guessed, the gang gets their rears handed to them early, and it all comes down to a river race that is the basis for the entire plot.The first problem in the movie is that the bullies are written as the biggest one- dimensional tools on Earth.
I understand that the Peanuts franchise has emphasized feminism several times with its characters and story lines, and this movie is trying to show that girls can be independent.
It still has a lot of plot structure, clever comedy, entertaining moments, neat animation, and valuable lessons that the Peanuts franchise is always best at..
a river runs through the "Peanuts" gang.
Charlie Brown and company go to summer camp and then have to compete with some bullies on a river-rafting trip.
Most "Peanuts"-based movies are pure comedy, but "Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown" does turn a little more serious when Snoopy and Woodstock get separated during a storm.
To be certain, this movie allows Charlie Brown to find his inner strength when he becomes the leader.No, it's not a masterpiece, but it's definitely fun.
That year brought us timeless classics like "Pete's Dragon", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "The Rescuers", "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" and this "Race for your life, Charlie Brown"."Race for your life, Charlie Brown" is the 3rd of the Peanuts's specials and one of their best.
The movie is great fun, very entertaining, thrilling, exciting and funny.
Besides, the artwork is pretty good (great colorful sceneries).As for the soundtrack, the song "Race for your life, Charlie Brown", which plays in the opening and final credits, is nice.
One of the most different things about this movie is that it features the whole Peanuts gang...
or at least pretty close to that.In this story, the gang goes to a Summer camp at the Rogue River (in Oregon).
The gang is in separate groups: the boys (Charlie Brown, Linus, Schroeder and Franklin), the girls (Lucy, Sally, Marcie and Peppermint Patty as the leader), Snoopy and Woodstock and last, 3 bullies and their vicious cat.Our friends live many adventures and face many challenges in this race, including to get lost in numerous places and to confront the schemes of the 3 bullies and their weird cat (a malicious cat, very much like Lucifer from Walt Disney's "Cinderella").
The Peanuts gang doesn't win, but the bullies don't win either.Peppermint Patty is funnier than usual here.
Don't forget me!», leaving Charlie Brown with no choice but to hitch a ride on Snoopy's Harley Davidson-like motorcycle.
He's got so much lack of luck, but at the same time this makes Peanuts so funny.This movie has yet delightful and hilarious scenes with Snoopy and Woodstock, of course.
I adore whenever they say «Hey!» to each other."Race for your life, Charlie Brown" is one of Peanuts's classics, almost as good as "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and don't come back!)".
"Race for your life, Charlie Brown" is a movie from the Peanuts series, that deals with a summer camp the kids are joining and how they all try to win the big race on the river.
It is based around the well-known Peanuts characters and suitable for both child and grown-up audiences in my opinion.What I liked most about the movie was its humor.
When the girls try to iron their clothes, first thing after landing, that's a bit too much stereotype for me.Otherwise every Peanut fan will surely have a fun time with this one.
For starters, it seems like Charlie Brown's gang, the girls, snoopy/Woodstock and the bullies are the only ones racing.
Sorry...I know it really is a great movie, and obviously you don't think about those things as a kid..
"Race For Your Life Charlie Brown" has even yet to be mentioned.
"Race For Your Life Charlie Brown" has even yet to be mentioned.
The entire gang, camping, rafting, through desert and wood, Snoopy and Woodstock on a chopper, multicolor ending.
Why have they put this ultimate Charlie Brown Movie out to pasture.
I have stopped purchasing anything "Peanuts" "Snoopy" or "Charlie Brown" since the Remastering of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" due to the Non-Release of this, my third favorite Peanuts Movie.
Fantastic remastering!Thanks People, VOTE for "Race For Your Life Charlie Brown" on tvshowsondvd.comGary.
Charlie Brown: Ladies Man. The beauty of virtually all "Peanuts" gang movies is that they're fun for kids, but they're still just as entertaining for adults.
"Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown" is no different.
You sit there as a kid and laugh at Charlie Brown's wishy-washiness, Snoopy and Woodstock's hijinks and Lucy's crabbiness.
Charlie Brown and the gang go to summer camp.
They try to steal a win in the annual raft race from the Camp Bullies, who make Charlie Brown's life miserable by pushing him around all throughout the movie.
Also causing Chuck to want to slash his wrists are Lucy and Peppermint Patty, who are their usual bossy selves; and Snoopy and Woodstock, who just kind of do their own thing and get themselves in jams that Cuarlie Brown has to bail them out of.
The nice thing is, Charlie Brown actually comes out the winner here; but he gabs so much afterwards that he misses the bus ride home so you still feel like the cartoon is not compromised from the usual "Charlie Brown-the-loser" theme.
Overall, a great movie that you'll want to keep watching over and over.