Directed By: Erik Wiese

Release Year: 2025

Studio/Streamer: Apple

Runtime: 40 minutes

Audio Description Provided By: (Need Credit)

Written By: (Need Credit)

Narrated By: (Need Credit)

What Is It?: Charlie Brown and his friends are off to their last summer of camp, which is also Sally’s first. Sally doesn’t understand the draw of going to camp, so Charlie takes it upon himself to make sure she has a fun experience like he always had, until they realize the camp is going to close due to decreasing attendance. Can Charlie Brown and the gang save the camp from closing, and can they do it while singing original songs?

What Works: I’m a grown man watching a brand new Snoopy special without any kids. So, bear with me here. But, much like Paramount Plus had with Dora and the Search For Sol Dorado, this will live or die by your children, and not film critics. If your family is a Peanuts household, and have watched all the other shorts, than I’m sure this is falling right in line. I don’t think many people realize just how many there are, because there are truly a few iconic ones, and then the others. I have nothing against this, but this isn’t set to become the next Great Pumpkin.

All your favorites seem to make an appearance, unless I missed someone. It follows the typical beats, and has some subplots to weave around. Notably, Snoopy and Woodstock are on a different journey around the save the camp proceedings. they find a treasure map, and have their own adventure.

It’s only 40 minutes, and I can’t be mad at it. It feels somewhat inconsequential, but sending the gang to camp also feels like a natural progression for all the other times they’ve already had. It might not be the best timing to have a film centered around camp, but also, camps nationwide might be on the decline, especially those not tied to churches. For anyone who went to a true sleep away camp, it isn’t the same thing as bible camp.

My summer camp experience is where I learned what Ramen was, as we camped out, boiled water, and used the water to cook the noodles. I went swimming, and learned we protect our ears from infection by pouring alcohol in our ears. I became afraid of archery after learning the little feathers at the end can be stuck in your finger if you don’t do it correctly. Camp was a formative experience I hope more kids get to have, so like Charlie Brown, I’m on board for the themes in this.

What Doesn’t Work: Other Peanuts specials come with a nostalgia factor this lacks for me as an adult, so I did feel like I was watching something not meant for me. i won’t hold that against the film, as there are no child critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and I believe kids will like this, but I’m not sure the parents will.

The Audio Description: Not a ton of description here, but also not a lot of room for it. I thought for what it was, it was fine. It did make me think, hopefully, at some point one of the Peanuts specials has actual description of what these characters look like for blind kids. This should not be your introduction for them to Snoopy, as there are some time honored treasures, but while this one dodges the typical character description because it is like the 20th adventure for this gang, we also at some point need to make sure there is actually description somewhere. Kids don’t just learn what Snoopy, Woodstock, Pigpen, and Sally all look like by osmosis.

You Might Like it If: You are looking for wholesome family entertainment and love Snoopy.

You Might Not Like It If: you heart is growing into a cold piece of coal because you’re secretly a mean one, Mr Grinch.

Final Thoughts: While by no means the definitive adventure with the Peanuts gang, it has its heart in the right place, and is a family friendly diversion no one can really object to.

Fresh: Final Grade: 6.3/10