Mr. Peabody & Sherman

Directed by Rob Minkoff
Starring Ty Burrell, Lake Bell, Leslie Mann, Stanley Tucci and Allison Janney
In UK Cinemas February 7th, 2014

by Bernie Byrnes

If you are a fan of the 1950’s cartoon, you will love this Dreamworks feature-length. It has preserved the spirit of the original right down to Ty Burrell’s impression of Bill Scott who voiced Mr. Peabody in the Rocky and Bullwinkle series. Danny Elfman makes his Dreamworks debut and with Rob Minkoff directing, the audience is in safe hands. One noteworthy update is that Sherman is (brilliantly) voiced by real child actor Max Charles rather than a 40-year-old guy. That said, the verbosity and heavy-handed didacticism maintained for this update may prove off-putting. I only saw the official excerpts of the film, so at this time it’s too soon to say whether it will be a hit with British audiences or not. It certainly has all the promise of a blockbuster family hit.

I liked what I saw and look forward to seeing it when it’s finished. Stanley Tucci’s fabulous Leonardo da Vinci pursued by his ‘creepy baby’ was as funny as it was educational. I just couldn’t help wishing Mr. Peabody had a touch more of the Brian Griffin about him and a touch less Brian Sewell.