An animated educational trip

Film review: Mr. Peabody and Sherman

History complements science and in the case of Mr. Peabody and Sherman, even comedy and yes, animation. From Albert Einstein and Leonardo Da Vinci to Marie Antoinette and Mona Lisa. They are distinguished characters seen in the time-travel of Mr. Peabody and Sherman, the latest animated production from Dreamworks (the company that gave worldwide audiences such releases as Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar).

Having a dog for a dad to a young boy may seem unthinkable, if not impossible or highly unusual, to many. While dogs are considered man’s bestfriend, they are never regarded as parent to a human being. Most people, however, will treat their dogs as babies or “member” of their family.

But Mr. Peabody (brilliantly voiced by Ty Burrell) is a highly-accomplished and genius canine. He legally adopts Sherman (voiced by child actor Max Charles) when he sees the latter as an abandoned baby.

Genius may be an understatement for Mr. Peabody as he is also an inventor, business wiz, scientist, Nobel prize-winner, Harvard graduate, chef, Olympic gold medalist, multi-lingual. If that’s not enviable enough, we don’t know what is. And yes, Mr. Peabody is a beagle.

The film takes viewers to important events in world history, which Sherman and his classmate-friend Penny (voiced by Ariel Winter) get to see through the time machine created by Mr. Peabody. Their trip takes them to a fun-filled adventure and definitely a memorable experience.

Undoubtedly, the film educates viewers, especially the young, with the presence of many great characters voiced by talented actors. As the principal leads travel through time, the movie gives visual images of famous historical characters.

From ancient Egypt, there’s Tutankhamen (voiced by Zach Callison) who wants to marry Penny. Then from the Italian Renaissance, Sherman, Penny and Mr. Peabody get to see how Leonardo Da Vinci (voiced by Stanley Tucci) captures that enigmatic smile from his Mona Lisa (voiced by Lake Bell).

From the Trojan War, Sherman gets to meet King Agamemnon (voiced by Patrick Warburton). During the French Revolution, Mr. Peabody escapes guillotine and there’s Marie Antoinette (voiced by Lauri Fraser). There’s also Albert Einstein (voiced by Mel Brooks in a special cameo).

There are many other important characters in the film whom Sherman, Penny and Mr. Peabody get to meet — George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Clinton, Isaac Newton, Odysseus, Vincent Van Gogh and Sigmund Freud.

In the end, Mr. Peabody and Sherman is a poignant story of a father and son that at one point, viewers forget Peabody is a dog and his adopted son is a boy who mingles with everyone else.

Directed by Rob Minkoff (who is also at the helm of memorable releases like The Lion King and Stuart Little), Mr. Peabody and Sherman is inspired by characters taken from the Rocky and Bullwinkle TV show, back in the early ’60s. However, the characters are more sophisticated and high-tech in the movie, as they are projected onscreen through 3D in the latest modern treatment.