Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mild but adult-oriented doc tells story of Schulz' Peanuts.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Who Are You, Charlie Brown?
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
WHO ARE YOU, CHARLIE BROWN? takes a behind-the-scenes look at how the iconic Peanuts characters were born from the mind of creator Charles Schulz. Narrated by actor Lupita Nyong'o, the documentary explores the many connections between Schulz and his lovable comic characters. Charlie Brown's persona closely mimicked Schulz, who suffered from low self-esteem and a continual stream of disappointments in his own early life. Woven in between Schulz's biographical details is an animated Peanuts storyline. Charlie Brown desperately tries to write a school essay with a prompt of "Who I am." He visits each of the Peanuts gang as he tries to figure out what to write in an essay about "nobody special." The documentary also features interviews with people who knew Schulz when he was alive, other comic authors, and celebrity Peanuts fans like Drew Barrymore and Kevin Smith.
Is It Any Good?
While the beloved Peanuts characters have been entertaining kids for decades, this documentary is geared much more toward adults than young Peanuts fans. Kids who aspire to be comic authors, or Peanuts superfans, may enjoy learning more of the behind-the-scenes details. Who Are You, Charlie Brown? isn't bad, but it's a run-of-the mill documentary with talking heads and archival footage. Though the new original Peanuts animation is a fun treat, its storyline is only mildly compelling.
It's pretty amazing what Schulz was able to create in his lifetime, but his impact isn't nearly as moving as what was depicted in the analogous Mister Rogers documentary. The film doesn't mention the Apple TV+'s Snoopy series, but it seems like it may have been created larely in the service of reminding Peanuts fans to tune into that show.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Charles Schulz's perseverance. He kept trying even when he was getting rejected, and he worked really hard making comics for more than 30 years. Do you think you could keep working at something for as long as he did?
Charles Schulz was tremendously gifted with communication skills. He was able to draw comics that were relatable to so many people. What media do you use to connect with people? Do you think you'd be able to create something that appeals to so many people?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 25, 2021
- Cast: Lupita Nyong'o , Drew Barrymore , Al Roker , Kevin Smith , Keith L. Williams , Miya Cech
- Director: Michael Bonfiglio
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors, Latino actors, Bisexual actors, Asian actors
- Studio: Apple TV+
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: History
- Character Strengths: Communication , Perseverance
- Run time: 54 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Watch Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate