Ornament Review: The Doctor Is In - 2010 Hallmark Peanuts Ornament

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Another classic Peanuts moment as an ornament

Cons: Seam in Charlie Brown's head; voices not original

The Bottom Line: 

Misses perfection

But any Peanuts fan will

Love this ornament

What's the Term for Fear of Psychiatrists?

One of the classic running set ups in the Peanuts comic strip was Lucy's psychiatric booth.  This was such a staple of the strip that it even showed up in A Charlie Brown Christmas, the first Peanuts special.  And Hallmark used it in 2010's The Doctor Is In Christmas ornament.

The ornament is loosely based on the Christmas special since it shows Lucy and Charlie Brown sitting at Lucy's booth in the winter.  How can you tell its winter?  Because the base of the ornament is white, representing the snow that is all around them.  The booth and Lucy's chair is purple with a red sign over it.  Charlie Brown and Lucy look pretty much like they do in the strip.  My only real complaint with them is the obvious seam running down the sides of Charlie Brown's head.

Because of that big, wide base, the ornament sits very level.  When you go to hand the ornament from the brass hook hiding just behind the top of the booth, you'll find that it tips back ever so slightly.  Actually, this is a good thing.  By tipping back, you are actually able to see Lucy framed in her booth that much easier.

This is another of Hallmark's magic ornaments, which in this case means sound.  It takes three button batteries, which are included.  When they are installed, you can press the button on the booth and hear some clips of Lucy trying to diagnosis just what Charlie Brown is afraid of by naming various fears and then defining them.  There are four clips based on the famous scene from the special.  It's got the music in the background and everything.  But these are not the clips from the show.  The actors playing Lucy and Charlie Brown sound a little more polished than they did in that particular show and the sound effects are just slightly off.  It's being nit picky, and I'm sure most people won't notice the difference, but I do wish they had used the original clips.

So there are a couple of small issues with The Doctor Is In.  Overall, it's still a fun ornament that Peanuts fans will enjoy hanging on their tree every year.

Original Price: $16.95