Mr. Peabody & Sherman Parent Guide
This film isn't so much about history as it is about how entertaining history can be -- with the right narrator, of course.
Parent Movie Review
As a child, I got at least some of my introduction to antiquity from Mr. Peabody—the highly intelligent hound from Peabody’s Improbable History. Admittedly it wasn’t the most accurate retelling of facts and probably didn’t help when it came to a history test, but it was fun!
In the animated shorts from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, the incredibly smart beagle and his adopted human Sherman travel in their WABAC (pronounced “way-back”). The time travel machine allowed them to meet famous faces, attend historical events and right wrongs from the past.
In 2014, Mr. Peabody and Sherman (voices of Ty Burrell and Max Charles) are back in an updated, big screen version of the story aimed at a new generation. (Still, the genius inventor insists the child call him by his name rather than Dad.) The orphaned boy has grown up in the quintessential home-schooled environment with field trips that are literally out of this world. Now Sherman is heading off for his first day of class at a private institution where some of the students don’t take kindly to the well-traveled know-it-all.
When Sherman dares to cross paths with his classmate Penny (voice of Ariel Winter), this mean girl reacts by bullying the boy until he resorts to biting her. That brings down the wrath of the state-appointed social worker (voice of Allison Janney) who vows to have Sherman removed from Mr. Peabody’s care. To smooth things over, Mr. Peabody prepares a gourmet meal and invites Penny and her parents (voices of Stephen Colbert and Leslie Mann) to dinner. But while the dog impresses the parents with his extraordinary bartending skills, Sherman and Penny take an unsupervised excursion in the time machine. And that sets in motion a series of side trips to the Trojan War, ancient Egypt and the Italian Renaissance for a joy ride in Leonardo da Vinci’s experimental flying machine.
When it comes to the father/son relationship, this movie attempts to make a break from the usual stereotypical bonding. Yet that doesn’t mean the rest of the film isn’t full of the conventions like the nasty social worker, an ineffective principal and helicopter parents. Even Sherman’s nerdy friends from school are characters we’re more than familiar with. The script does try to steer clear of a lot of other content concerns that might keep parents from buying movie tickets. (Violence will likely be the biggest issue with depictions of a guillotine, Taser attacks and repeated scenes of sword use.)
This screwball peek at history pits the value of book learning against hands-on experience as it introduces famous figures from the past. It also suggests, at least in the case of childrearing, you can teach an old dog new tricks. For most young viewers this message will be totally lost. And that’s okay. Much like Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, this film isn’t so much about history as it is about how entertaining history can be—with the right narrator of course.
Directed by Rob Minkoff. Starring Allison Janney, Ty Burrell, Stephen Colbert, Max Charles. Running time: 92 minutes. Theatrical release March 7, 2014. Updated July 17, 2017About author
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
Rating & Content Info
Why is Mr. Peabody & Sherman rated PG? Mr. Peabody & Sherman is rated PG by the MPAA for some mild action and brief rude humor.
Violence: Characters are rounded up and sentenced to death by a guillotine. One man narrowly misses being beheaded. Characters cause a massive explosion by igniting methane gas in the sewer system. A child, who is humiliated and bullied at school, bites another child. A baby is abandoned in a box in an alley. Characters are thrown in a tomb with mummies. Characters are threatened with swords and engage in a battle with weapons. Characters take, pilot and crash a flying machine. Police are involved in a car crash during a chase. A character is repeatedly shot with a Taser for comedy relief. A woman is smashed by a falling stone. Other depictions of hitting and non-graphic violence are seen.
Sexual Content: A man has his pants cut off, exposing his underwear, during a sword fight. A character makes a joke about female anatomy. A painting with a female bosom is shown. Friends embrace. Brief, mild sexual comments are made.
Language: The script contains some name-calling and a brief sexual double entendre.
Alcohol / Drug Use: One character shows off his bartending skills by mixing up drinks for his dinner guests. Two men are seen in an alley surrounded by alcohol bottles.
Other: The script includes several “poop” jokes and other moments of bathroom humor.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Mr. Peabody & Sherman Parents' Guide
The comedic use of Tasers in the movies can give children an unrealistic view of these devices. With certain types of these weapons now available for personal protection, how dangerous are these portrayals in the movies?
What does Mr. Peabody learn about childrearing? What does Sherman learn about obedience and taking risks? What negative effect can the depiction of social workers have on the way audiences view those who are involved in child protection services?
What historical character would you like to meet? What historical event would you choose to attend?
Mr. Peabody and Sherman are characters originally introduced in the 1960s animated television series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show in segments titled Peabody’s Improbable History.
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Mr. Peabody & Sherman movie is October 14, 2014. Here are some details…
Home Video Notes: Mr. Peabody and Sherman
Release Date: 14 October 2014 (Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™ and DVD)
Release Date: 23 September 2014 (Digital HD)
DreamWorks Animation’s Mr. Peabody and Sherman releases to home video in 3 packages:
Mr. Peabody & Sherman Blu-ray Deluxe Edition (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)
- Feature film in high definition
- Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends Show (The premiere episode of the original 1959 television show).
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman Segments (Five segments from the original television series: Robin Hood, Leonardo Da Vinci, Louis XVI, William Shakespeare, Ludwig Van Beethoven).
- History’s Greatest Mysteries – A Dog and his Boy
- Peabody’s Paw Print on History: Mr. Peabody gets his pawprints in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Features cast members Ty Burrell (voice of “Mr. Peabody”) and Max Charles (voice of “Sherman”), and filmmakers Rob Minkoff (director), Alex Schwartz (producer) and Tiffany Ward (executive producer). for the festivities. Also appearances by some famous furry friends including Lassie, Beethoven, Rin Tin Tin, and a dog named George Clooney.
- Time Travel Memory Match game
- The WABAC Jigsaw Puzzle game
Mr. Peabody & Sherman Blu-ray 3D Deluxe Edition (Blu-ray™ 3D + Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital Copy)
- Feature film in high definition and 3D
- All of the above plus: All New Rocky & Bullwinkle Adventure
Mr. Peabody & Sherman DVD (DVD)
- Feature film in standard definition
- Tour of the WABAC Machine (An in-depth tour of the WABAC machine with explanations of what many of the WABAC’s knobs, buttons, and gizmos do. And answers to questions like: What is a Pneumatic Dressilator? A hemidemisemiquavatron? How do those windshield wiper help while speeding through the space-time continuum? )
- Time Travel: Mad Science (Real physicists Kenneth Wharton and Anthony Aguirre find out if there is any possibility of time travel, and if so, how it would work. They explore the two time travel theories of the Block Universe and the Multi-Verse. Learn why scientists think only forward time travel is possible, and how Einstein’s Theory of Relativity still determines how scientists imagine the possibilities of time travel.)
- Photo Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer
- World of DreamWorks Animation: Music videos from your favorite DreamWorks Animation feature films.
- Holiday Favorites: Sneak Peeks
Related home video titles:
Another child plays with his father’s time machine in Meet the Robinsons. The bond between dogs and humans is comically portrayed in It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and The Incredible Adventures Of Wallace & Gromit.
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