DVD Review: Happiness Is… Peanuts: Snow Days

DVD Reviews, Reviews

A chilly winter night is always a fine time to break out the Peanuts. But how many times can you watch A Charlie Brown Christmas? It’s always good to have more seasonal specials to mix up the fun. Happiness Is… Peanuts: Snow Days combines an 1980 special with an episode from 1985’s The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show.

She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown explains that Peppermint Patty falls asleep in class because she’s waking up at 4:30 a.m. to practice figure skating on a frozen lake. Snoopy dresses up in a fur coat and hat and acts like a Soviet Olympic coach.

Who could imagine that Peppermint Patty would be an ice skater since they don’t put blades on flip-flops? Snoopy does everything at the ice skating competition including the contestants music and driving the Zamboni. Even with that much edge, the dog screws up and Woodstock must save the day. Charles Schulz’s daughter Amy was one of the models for the figure skating.

“Sally’s Sweet Babboo” is the episode from the Saturday morning The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show. “The Play” lets Charlie Brown recount the previous Christmas Pageant. Lucy takes control of the production. She wants to amp it up by putting the entire show on ice. Although nobody appears to have skates. It’s a holiday disaster. Sally expects Linus to give her a Valentine in “Sweet Babboo.” Peppermint Patty writes an essay about the amazing life of Snoopy. The flashbacks allows them to tap segments from previous specials. The episode’s animation isn’t quite as smooth as the skating special. Happiness Is… Peanuts: Snow Days warms up like a cup of hot chocolate covered in tiny marshmallows.

The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The transfers are fine with the occasional smutz on the frame from cells not being completely clean. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The mix is fine and brings out the bittersweet element in Woodstock’s whistle.

No bonus features.

Happiness Is… Peanuts: Snow Days can warm a chilly night with a few more wintry episodes of Snoopy and the gang. She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown is one of the better ‘80s specials. Peppermint Patty looks smooth on figure skating blades.

Warner Home Video presents Happiness Is… Peanuts: Snow Days. Directed by Phil Roman. Starring: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Marcy and Peppermint Patty. Running Time: 47 minutes. Released on DVD: October 18, 2011. Available at Amazon.com.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.