Dreamwork's latest offering draws its inspiration from a series of cartoon sketches featured in "Bullwinkle and friends" from the 1950's. Mr Peabody is the smartest being in the world (who just happens to be a dog) and Sherman is his human adopted son.
"Mr Peabody and Sherman" is an enjoyable romp through history as the principal characters time travel their way through the past, by use of Mr Peabody's invention "the WABAC". The main purpose of this invention was to help Sherman learn first hand about the events of history under the protection of his adopted father. Rather predictably, things go wrong when unqualified persons use the WABAC and begin to cause havoc with the space-time continuum. But can the Nobel prize winning canine repair the damage and save the day ?
A sub-plot has Sherman coming up against bullying at school for being super intelligent and mockery for having a dog as an adopted father. When Sherman defends himself, the evil school counsellor "Miss Grunion" (who is clearly jealous of Mr Peabody's intellect and achievements) threatens to take the boy out of his custody. She also further humiliates him by treating him as nothing more than a dog that belongs in the pound.
Most of the characters the time travellers encounter in history are very "Americanised" and "Agamemnon" especially sounds like he belongs in New York rather than Troy.
On one level, this film is a light hearted piece of children's entertainment, but it certainly has something for adults as well. Central to the story is Mr Peabody's genuine love for Sherman and the trials and tribulations of being a good father to him. Its touching to see how far he will go to protect him and educate him properly throughout. The "beautiful boy" montage was especially moving.
A cut above many modern children's movies.
"Mr Peabody and Sherman" is an enjoyable romp through history as the principal characters time travel their way through the past, by use of Mr Peabody's invention "the WABAC". The main purpose of this invention was to help Sherman learn first hand about the events of history under the protection of his adopted father. Rather predictably, things go wrong when unqualified persons use the WABAC and begin to cause havoc with the space-time continuum. But can the Nobel prize winning canine repair the damage and save the day ?
A sub-plot has Sherman coming up against bullying at school for being super intelligent and mockery for having a dog as an adopted father. When Sherman defends himself, the evil school counsellor "Miss Grunion" (who is clearly jealous of Mr Peabody's intellect and achievements) threatens to take the boy out of his custody. She also further humiliates him by treating him as nothing more than a dog that belongs in the pound.
Most of the characters the time travellers encounter in history are very "Americanised" and "Agamemnon" especially sounds like he belongs in New York rather than Troy.
On one level, this film is a light hearted piece of children's entertainment, but it certainly has something for adults as well. Central to the story is Mr Peabody's genuine love for Sherman and the trials and tribulations of being a good father to him. Its touching to see how far he will go to protect him and educate him properly throughout. The "beautiful boy" montage was especially moving.
A cut above many modern children's movies.