- Unspectacular but entertaining, Mr. Peabody and Sherman is neither great nor bad.
- It is anchored by quality voice actors, with Ty Burrell (Mr. Peabody) and Max Charles (Sherman) both giving life to their characters.
- The film’s standout is Ariel Winter (Penny Peterson), however, who is so good that she harnesses emotion at multiple turns.
- It helps that her character is also animated with the most nuance. Even when she’s bullying Sherman, Penny’s facial expressions ensure we understand she’s just trying to maintain social dominance, not to be malicious.
- That is not to say the rest of Mr. Peabody and Sherman’s animation fails. It most certainly does not. This film is impressive to look at, especially when considering all of the historical inanimate objects it perfectly renders: Egyptian monuments, Marie Antoinette’s estate, the Mona Lisa and more.
- Nothing is as impressive as Da Vinci’s plane.
- For all of the animation and acting strength, however, this feature struggles to find an identity. Between Mr. Peabody’s puns, some of which are quite clever, his long-winded academic explanations, and the script’s frequent exposition, much of the content will escape younger audience’s understanding.
- Yet, Mr. Peabody and Sherman’sΒ themes and plot line are predictably simplistic, so much so that they fail to enlighten adults.
- Ditto that for the way Craig White’s screenplay develops most characters. The only complex individual here is Penny.
- The rest, even Sherman and Mr. Peabody, have one note.
- Then there is Ms. Grunion (Allison Janney), who is too stereotypically evil.
- Were it not for Penny – the actor, animation and characterization – very little would hold older audience’s attention.
- Yet, Mr. Peabody and Sherman is not bad, mostly because it is energetic and comedic enough to remain entertaining.
- But flawed.
- Final Grade: C
I was surprised by this. Not only did it make me laugh, but even got me to tear-up just a bit. And only a bit, I say! Good review.
Thank you. There are parts that are funny and other parts that are touching. And still other parts that just don’t work. π
Have no real desire to see this even if I do love a good pun. Good review though.
There are many good puns in this flick. Really, it has potential to be a memorable animated feature, but ultimately I don’t think it is one. I won’t recommend you run out to see it.
I’m very surprised that these obscure characters from the 60s were turned into a full length movie. Strange. Like “Let’s make a full length movie about Hawk and Dove” (from the comic books)
Or Mister Miracle.
Um. I don’t know him either. #hides head in shame.
Um. I don’t know Hawk and Dove, but I have the same thought about Peabody and Sherman. They work as five minute interludes; they work less well as featured characters.
Which might be why I think Penny the best character here.
Yep. Still sounds like The Lego Movie is the animated film to beat this year! Nice review, my friend!
I think The Lego Movie is the one beat. And this one doesn’t.
I agree, but I do think it is colorful and vibrant enough to make the young ones happy. The villain was awfully written!
I think there’s enough here for the kids to gawk at, sure. But enough for to truly understand it? I’m less convinced. My kids would see this, laugh a lot once and then probably not ask for it again. They tend to be disinterested in things that sail over their comprehension.
We totally agree about how decidedly average this was. Ty Burrell as Mr. Peabody was good. But I’d rather watch The Lego Movie again or Frozen or The Wind Rises or virtually any animated movie this past year.
Agreed. I’d see this again over Epic, but that’s the only one of which I can think.
That’s a grade that looks reality right between the eyes. Spot-on review, too. I was neither really interested nor completely disappointed by this. It awkwardly mixed juvenile humor with some of Peabody’s sophistication and I didn’t know how to feel about it some of the time, but yes, as you took care to note, it was a visually gorgeous movie. I loved going back to Italy, that was fun. Wish it was more like that
Italy was definitely the most fun this movie has to offer. And I agree: the flick would have done well to be like that throughout.
Obviously, we agree on this one.