Based on a series of shorts from The Bullwinkle Show in USA in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Mr. Peabody and Sherman follows the titular duo, one a super-intelligent dog, Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell) and one his adopted human child, Sherman (Max Charles).
Mr. Peabody uses a machine called the WABAK (pronounced ‘Way Back’) to travel in time to show Sherman the truth about history, but disaster strikes when Sherman and fellow classmate Penny (Ariel Winter) find themselves trapped in time periods as diverse as the renaissance, Troy and ancient Egypt and with Mr. Peabody in tow, need to find a way home before all time and space collapses.
In terms of narrative structure, Mr. Peabody and Sherman plays out more like a series of short adventures, than one satisfying whole. Each era has a distinct style and feel, but the transition from one to another is clunky and in the early stages especially the flow of the film is uncomfortable and tiresome. It does pick up around the half-way mark and by the end has develops a satisfying ending, but for too long it drags its feet.
The voice work is good from the lead characters as well as supporting cast including Stanley Tucci, Allison Janney and Leslie Mann. The jokes are funny on the whole, but there aren’t enough big laughs.
Dreamworks have been trying hard to match the quality of content that Disney/Pixar produce in recent years, but they often fall short of the high benchmark. Mr. Peabody and Sherman brings an element of education, which is unique and refreshing, but unfortunately plays exactly to type. Children will find it fun and adults will enjoy the little jokes for them peppered throughout, but it lacks not only the beauty in construction and animation, but that all important spark of magic.
