Review #1125: Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
Cast:
Ty Burrell (Mr. Peabody), Max Charles (Sherman), Ariel Winter (Penny Peterson), Stephen Colbert (Paul Peterson), Leslie Mann (Patty Peterson), Allison Janney (Edwina Grunion), Stephen Tobolowsky (Principal Purdy), Stanley Tucci (Leonardo da Vinci), Patrick Warburton (King Agamemnon), Zach Callison (King Tut), Dennis Haysbert (Judge), and Leila Birch (WABAC) Directed by Rob Minkoff (#073 - The Lion King and #746 - The Haunted Mansion)
Review:
In a world where any kind of show or segment can be adapted into a show, I suppose it only makes sense that this exists. This is an adaptation of "Peabody's Improbable History", created by Ted Key that appeared as a segment on The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends from 1959 to 1960. It is also the 28th film from Dreamworks Animation, which seems to want to churn out as many products of entertainment as it pleases, which can certainly lead to some interesting things - for better or for worse. The best thing I can say about this film is that it will get the job done in terms of entertainment for its target audience, for better or worse. There is a certain charm that the movie has with its jokes, having an eccentric nature that combines with some engaging animation to carry the movie more often than not. Burrell does a fine job, being fairly clever and interesting to watch while generating a fair share of amusement. Charles does fine, having a spunky boyish nature that plays well with Burrell in the history segments, with the family segments playing off okay. Winter does okay with what she's given, but her character generally comes off as annoying and self-serving, and her chemistry with the other two is more irritating than dynamic; with her first scene (involving her calling Sherman a dog), you'd think she was actually playing an adversary. She lightens up slightly, but not entirely to make a winning trio. The only other person with significant screen-time is Janney, playing a bureaucrat that is an unwanted presence each time she pops up, not generating any sort of laughs, representing the time when the movie slows itself down to try and create conflict. There are three main timelines covered in the film, with a varying consistency that don't plod too much, with the Troy marginally being the best one with its energy, with Warburton helping out in that regard. Nothing says "history lesson" like puns and goofy portrayals of history, reminding me a bit of History of the World, Part I (1981), albeit with attempts to connect the plot together. The story, written by Craig Wright (writer for shows such Six Feet Under) is usually up to task. The time travel story does weave itself a bit complex, but it proves workable without being too cliched. However, the film's problem is its elements besides time travel. Perhaps there wasn't a way to make a film without introducing a third to go with the main duo, but then I remember that Back to the Future (1985) and the Bill and Ted films worked out just fine with weaving its time travel and humor with its duo. The whimsicalness can only go so far when the emotional arc tries to wedge itself in, for better or worse. The climax is okay, but its shoehorned parts about the nature of the duo's relationship (in an attempt to establish "heart", I suppose) border on cringing the audience. When the movie wants to have zany fun and not try to go through the motions of predictability, it is engaging and worth a fine time, making for a solidly average but serviceable movie. At 92 minutes, it won't torture its audience, working as decent fare for families and anybody looking for a decent time to travel with.
Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.
