Aside from Tom and Jerry, I never watched much of the Hanna-Barbara style cartoons. I found their humor simple-minded, and I blame their cheap animation style for my neurosis of pencils when I was 8 (I was an odd child). Needless to say I had no back knowledge of the Mr. Peabody and Sherman cartoon going into this year’s animated adaptation.
Now the question is, was I blown away to the point where I now have immense respect for the show with a heartening desire to watch every episode? No, I don’t, would be my response. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t have a fun time watching it.
The story is one you’ve heard a thousand times before: A father-son story that involves the two going a journey of space as their differences collide but become resolved in the end, except in this case the dad is a dog and the boy is still a boy. You know, that old chestnut.
But I’ve heard the story so many times that I sort of tune it out now. It’s harmless, and I guess it works for a reason.
Despite that, the movie earns its stripes through its utter sense of adventure. Peabody (Ty Burrell) and Sherman (Max Charles) spend most of the movie traveling through time and visiting all the different eras trying to get home. It will remind fans of Hercules, which had the same style when it came to Greek mythology.
We meet the likes of a neurotic and awkward Da Vinci as he struggles to paint the Mona Lisa, Agamemnon who is a total bro who just wants to punch things (Sounds like my ex-wife…that joke would be better if I had an ex-wife). We even visit the French Revolution, which really is awesome just because they make fun of French people.
The movie is rounded out with a terrific band of characters voiced terrifically including Agamemnon (Patrick Warburton), Leonardo Da Vinci (Stanley Tucci), Penny (Ariel Winter) and Penny’s parents (Stephen Colbert and Leslie Mann). The movie hinges on its goofy band of historical characters and everyone seems on board for the challenge.
Just like the story itself, there’s not much to tell in this review. The story has been told to death, but there’s plenty of humor for the youngsters that’s witty enough for the groaning parents who wasted $50 on candy (my children will get nothing and like it!).
Will it stand tall in the pantheon of animated films like Finding Nemo, Toy Story and The Lion King (director Rob Minkoff also did this)? In no way shape or form. But is it a colorful, funny time at the movies that may deserve a re-watch or two? Sure, why not. Dogs are cute and I am a history nerd. Aw that makes me a dork, huh?
