Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (1990)

Such a frustrating disappointment

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

While I love Charlie Brown, still really Linus is my favorite as the voice of reason. And as the conscience of Charlie and the kids. Charlie kind of takes a backseat to Linus.As he falls in love with a blonde hair girl. As she gets leukemia. And loses her hair. As she must have treatment. And Linus really is grieved with this. Loved the way that he stood up to a bully. Who was making fun of her, for losing her hair. Later the bully becomes nicer. After learning of her disease.As Linus really took the spotlight. Wished that he could take the spotlight more. As really he is my favorite of the Peanuts. Even before Charlie Brown!Touching and moving and risky for a cartoon to take on the cancer thing. As kids needed to know how cancer is involved.

My youngest daughter loved this show and watched it over and over again because we bought it on video. I'm surprised it hasn't been put on DVD by now.It is a show that deals with the sensitivity about a childhood illness and at the same time brings us some humorous moments with Snoopy. My daughtered loved the part where Snoopy unplugs Charlie Brown's light he's reading by to plug in his Christmas lights.The most unrealistic part is when the girl has her full head of hair at the end. Nobody's hair grows back that fast after Chemo, but I think the message was is that her hair would grow back. Something the kids needed to know. Most kids like to have happy endings.No, it wasn't perfect but in my opinion it was done well.

This one will probably continue to hold the award for Most Annoying Shouting By An Aggrieved Child until the 5th Harry Potter book is filmed. These Charlie Brown cartoons always had an unpolished speaking style for the kids' voices, which in the early days was cute and winning. The stilted shouting was funny when it was Linus ranting about the Great Pumpkin. But they use the exact same phony-sounding style when the issue being discussed is cancer, so the whole thing comes off as hokey. The worst part is when Linus lectures an insensitive kid on his cruel comments about the girl who's lost her hair through chemotherapy. It's loud, toneless, and self-righteous, and just made me want to belt him in the mouth, rather than making me feel sympathetic.

I first watched this when I was a little girl and believe me, it stays with you forever! It really helps little kids understand about death. It's the best Charlie Brown episode I've ever seen. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in seeing a great Charlie Brown episode, or anyone who likes Charlie Brown for that fact. It is one you can't miss and can't watch without getting a little teary eyed.