Lynn Belvedere

MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN

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MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN is an American 3D computer-animated comedy science fiction movie film about time travellers

Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell) is a lovable talking dog, who is smartest being in the world, business titan, inventor, scientist, a cool musician, Harvard graduate, Nobel laureate, gourmet chef, and two-time Olympic medalist.

Mr. Peabody finds little baby Sherman in a cardboard box, and then adopts him because Peabody wants something that he didn’t have when he was small, a home for him.

Mr. Peabody is the most accomplished dog in the world, and his mischievous “pet” a seven-year-old adopted boy named Sherman (Max Charles), use their time machine – The WABAC – to go on the dangerous time travel adventures in the past on Planet Earth.

On his first day at school, Sherman is insulted at his school by a girl called Penny (Ariel Winter). She offends him by calling him a dog, and he bites her in retaliation, so Penny and her Mum and Dad have to visit Sherman at house to check whether Mr. Peabody is actually a suitable parent.

When Sherman takes the WABAC out for an unauthorised joyride (think a suitable for children “Bill and Ted” styled romp) through time) just to impress his female friend Penny, they accidentally rip a gigantic hole in the universe, where moments in history have changed and things start spiraling out of control. Having wreaked havoc on the most important events in world history, using his genius-level IQ, Mr. Peabody must come to their rescue, to undo all their unintended changes to history before space-time continuum is forever destroyed.

Original and entertaining, this quirky, colourful and humorous and the childish behaviour of the main characters in the end, all are lovable characters. The movie is fast-paced and the unpredictable story is fresh, always inventive, laugh-out-loud-funny with heaps of vocal slapstick and humorous sight gags, and containing a wonderful morality tale. A very guilty pleasure and with something for every audience. Some of the jokes are clearly aimed at the anticipated audience of seven and nine year olds, and fortunately some lines that only their dads will understand.

The superb 3D animation works very well and  is ingeniously designed. Adapted and based on two featured cartoon characters from the “Classic Media Library” that appeared in “Mr. Peabody’s Improbable History” segments of Jay Ward’s cartoon creations “Rocky and His Friends” plus “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show”, animated television series from 1959 for four seasons and Sherman appeared in 32 episodes from 1959 to 1961 (imdb.com).

Craig Wright’s script resonates and defines the loving relationship between a father and his son. MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN is “very true to the original cartoons” and many unexpected objects to carefully look for, and features several historical figures that will easily teach your children Ancient/Modern History including some factual errors and anachronisms.

Just before the end credits start, you can see the little street cleaner that was at the end of the parade of each “the end credits” from the original “Rocky and His Friends”.

Highly recommended to family audiences with highly enjoyable humour, suitable for both the pre-teenagers and their parents.

Voice Cast includes Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, Mel Brooks, Allison Janney, Patrick Warburton, Stephen Tobolowsky, Lake Bell, Zach Callison. Directed by Rob Minkoff. Music composed by Danny Elfman. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox. 92 minutes running time. OFLC classification PG (Mild themes and animated violence)

Official Website: http://www.mrpeabodyandsherman.com/

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -