| Mr. Peabody & Sherman | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Rob Minkoff |
| Screenplay by | Craig Wright |
| Based on | "Peabody's Improbable History" fromRocky & Friends byJay Ward[a] |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Edited by | Michael Andrews |
| Music by | Danny Elfman[1] |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release dates | |
Running time | 92 minutes[4] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $145 million[5] |
| Box office | $275.7 million[5] |
Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a 2014 American animatedscience fiction comedy film produced byDreamWorks Animation,PDI/DreamWorks, andBullwinkle Studios, and distributed by20th Century Fox. The film is based on characters fromTed Key's "Peabody's Improbable History" segments of the animated television seriesThe Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends. It was directed byRob Minkoff and produced by Alex Schwartz and Denise Nolan Cascino, from a screenplay byCraig Wright. Tiffany Ward, daughter of series producer and co-creatorJay Ward, served as executive producer.[6]Mr. Peabody & Sherman features the voices ofTy Burrell,Max Charles,Ariel Winter,Stephen Colbert,Leslie Mann, andAllison Janney. In the film, Mr. Peabody and his adoptive human son Sherman use the WABAC to embark on time travel adventures. When Sherman accidentally rips a hole by taking the WABAC without permission to impress Penny Peterson, they must find themselves to repair history and save the future, while dealing with Sherman's prying social worker, Ms. Grunion, who wants to have him removed from Mr. Peabody's custody.
The film was originally planned as a live-action/CG film until it was redeveloped into a fully computer-animated film in 2006 when Minkoff joined DreamWorks Animation to direct an adaptation. Andrew Kurtzman was set to write the screenplay, based on the pitch, developed by Minkoff with his longtime producing partner Jason Clark. It is the first DreamWorks animated feature to feature characters from theClassic Media library since its acquisition by DreamWorks Animation in 2012,[7] the first animated adaptation of a Jay Ward property, and Minkoff's first animated film after having co-directedThe Lion King (1994) forWalt Disney Animation Studios in 25 years, his first directing a CGI animated film, and his first fully animated film as a solo director.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman premiered on February 7, 2014 in the United Kingdom[2] and was released theatrically a month later in the United States.[3] It received positive reviews from critics, who praised the voice acting and characters, while others criticized the plot and its use of the source material. Despite grossing $275 million worldwide against a budget of $145 million, the film lost the studio $57 million. A TV series based on the film, titledThe Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, premiered onNetflix on October 9, 2015, withChris Parnell replacing Burrell as Mr. Peabody while Charles reprises his role as Sherman.
Mr. Peabody is a highly intelligentanthropomorphic dog who lives in aNew York Citypenthouse with his adopted human son, Sherman. Peabody uses a time machine known as theWABAC to teach Sherman history. On Sherman's first day of school, he corrects classmate Penny Peterson about the historicity of theGeorge Washington cherry-tree anecdote, resulting in a fight where Penny calls Sherman a dog and puts him in a chokehold. After Sherman bites Penny in self-defense, Peabody is called in for a meeting with Principal Purdy and Ms. Grunion, achild protective services agent. Grunion suspects Peabody of being an unfit parent and plans to investigate Peabody's home and threatens to remove Sherman from his care if she deems Peabody unfit to parent.
The next evening, Peabody invites Penny's family over for a dinner party. Sherman takes Penny on an unauthorized trip in the WABAC and she stays inAncient Egypt to marry a youngKing Tut. Sherman enlists Peabody's help to retrieve her, and Penny agrees to leave after learning that she will beentombed with Tut after his death. On the return journey to the present, the WABAC loses power, forcing an unplanned stop at the home ofLeonardo da Vinci inRenaissance Florence, where Sherman tests da Vinci's flying machine and crashes it. Afterwards, he learns of Ms. Grunion's intentions and falls out with Peabody.
A further WABAC malfunction lands the trio in the midst of theTrojan War, where Sherman joinsAgamemnon's army. Peabody saves Penny and Sherman from falling off a cliff within theTrojan Horse, appearing to sacrifice himself in the process. Sherman and Penny travel back to earlier that evening, seeking help from the past version of Peabody, but this leads to an encounter with the Sherman from that timeline. Just as Grunion arrives, the original Peabody returns from Troy, having survived the fall. Grunion attempts to collect both Shermans, but they and the Peabodys merge, generating a cosmic shockwave. When Grunion persists in her efforts to take Sherman away, Peabody bites her in a fit of rage and desperation and she calls theNew York Police Department.
Peabody, Penny, and Sherman race to the WABAC, but cannot initiate time travel due to a rip in the space-time continuum caused by the merging. A portal opens above New York and unleashes a deluge of historical figures and artifacts onto the streets. When the WABAC crashes inGrand Army Plaza, Peabody faces arrest, but Sherman, the Petersons, and the historical figures rally to his defense. Peabody and Sherman use the WABAC to travel into the future and repair the damage. The historical figures are sent back to their respective eras and Agamemnon, smitten with Grunion, takes her with him. Sherman returns to school, having not only become friends with Penny but also strengthened his bond with Peabody, with King Tut and Leonardo da Vinci having modern day 'artifacts', while Agamemnon marries Ms. Grunion.
In addition toLeonardo da Vinci,King Agamemnon, andKing Tut, the film features other historical figures includingAlbert Einstein (Mel Brooks),[20]Mona Lisa (Lake Bell),[12]Marie Antoinette (Lauri Fraser),[15]Maximilien Robespierre (Guillaume Aretos),[15]George Washington,Abraham Lincoln,Bill Clinton,Isaac Newton (all voiced byJess Harnell),[19]Odysseus (Tom McGrath),[19]Ajax the Lesser (Al Rodrigo)[19] andSpartacus (Walt Dohrn).[21]
Plans for a film starringMister Peabody and Sherman had existed for several years with directorRob Minkoff. His first attempt to make a feature film goes to 2003, when it was reported that Minkoff's Sony-based production company Sprocketdyne Entertainment andBullwinkle Studios would produce a live-action/CG film, with a possibility of Minkoff to direct it.[22] The live-action film was not realized, but in 2006, Minkoff joinedDreamWorks Animation to direct a computer-animated film adaptation. Andrew Kurtzman was set to write the screenplay, based on the pitch, developed by Minkoff with his longtime producing partner Jason Clark.[23] The final screenplay was written by Craig Wright, with revisions byRobert Ben Garant andThomas Lennon.
Tiffany Ward, daughter ofJay Ward, one of the creators of the original series, served as an executive producer,[6] whose job was to make sure the film stayed "true to the integrity of the characters". When she was approached by Minkoff ten years before the film's release, she was enthused by his intention to respect the legacy: "What better caretaker for the characters could we ask for than Rob".[24] The process to make the adaptation "perfect" took them a long time, but she was pleased with the end result, which stayed "very true to the original cartoon".[24]
In early 2011,Robert Downey Jr. signed on to voice Mr. Peabody,[25] but in March 2012, he was replaced byTy Burrell.[8] Reportedly, Downey's commitments toThe Avengers and other franchises did not allow him to find the time to record his lines.[26] Initially, Tiffany Ward and others at the studio opposed Burrell, who was then relatively unknown, but he managed to convince them with a successful audition.[26] Ward insisted on someone who sounds like Mr. Peabody did in the original series, while Minkoff saw the casting as an opportunity "to modernize the character".[26] He promised her that Burrell would try to "get there and he started watching the show to nail the cadence. He got the underlying connection and he made it his own."[26]
Max Charles, the actor who played youngPeter Parker inThe Amazing Spider-Man, voiced Sherman.[8]Stephen Colbert voiced Paul Peterson,Leslie Mann, who replacedEllie Kemper, voiced Peterson's wife, Patty,[12] andAriel Winter voiced their daughter Penny. Other voices includeStephen Tobolowsky,Allison Janney,Mel Brooks,Stanley Tucci,Patrick Warburton,Lake Bell, Zach Callison,Karan Brar, andDennis Haysbert.[11] According to Minkoff, Burrell was chosen because his voice "embodied all the different aspects of the character today. Not just the intellect and the suave personality, but the underlying warmth as well."[24]
The visual development process began in 2011 with production designer David James, visual effects supervisor Philippe Denis, and art director Tim Lamb collaborating to establish the film’s aesthetic.[27] The team drew inspiration from mid-century modern design, the UPA animation style, and visual trends from the 1950s and 1960s. These influences guided the creation of environments, character poses, and textures, emphasizing clean silhouettes and simple, readable designs to retain the essence of the original show. Translating the minimally designed 2D cartoon characters into 3D posed significant challenges.[27] Early animation tests focused on ensuring expressive clarity for characters like Mr. Peabody and Sherman, particularly regarding their glasses, which obscured facial features. For example, animators developed rules to adjust eyebrow placement above or below the glasses' rims to enhance readability of expressions.[27]
The animation team implemented innovative techniques to reflect the spirit of 2D animation. A system was developed to allow characters to use "multiple limbs", a nod to traditional animation smears and exaggerated movements.[27] This feature enabled animators to add extra limbs to characters during rapid movements, enhancing visual clarity and energy.[27] Another innovation involved incorporating refraction effects in the animation software to simulate the distortion caused by the characters' glasses. This allowed animators to pose characters accurately without relying on time-intensive adjustments during the lighting phase.[27]
The production schedule was organized by sequences, with each sequence lasting two to three minutes. Early sequences, such as the bedroom scene between Mr. Peabody and Sherman, were chosen for their focus on character interactions,[27] providing an opportunity to refine character dynamics. Complex sequences, such as one depicting Sherman growing younger through time, required extended pre-production and weekly review meetings to address unique visual and technical challenges.[27] One notable challenge was the depiction of the antagonist, Ms. Grunion. Her limited screen time necessitated careful animation to establish her motivations and impact as a villain. This process required multiple iterations to ensure her character resonated with the audience.[27]
The film's score was composed byDanny Elfman.[28] The soundtrack was released by Relativity Music Group on March 3, 2014.[29]Peter Andre wrote and performed for the film a song titled "Kid",[30] which is played during the British version of the end credits, instead ofGrizfolk's "Way Back When".[31]
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Mr. Peabody & Sherman went through several release date changes. Originally scheduled for March 21, 2014 and March 14, 2014,[32] DreamWorks Animation's high expectations moved the film to November 8, 2013 (which was moved up to November 1, 2013), replacing another DreamWorks Animation film,Me and My Shadow.[11] The last shift happened in February 2013, which pushed the film back to March 7, 2014, reportedly due to a "more advantageous release window", again replacingMe and My Shadow.[3] The film premiered a month earlier in the United Kingdom, on February 7, 2014.[33]
Mr. Peabody & Sherman was released indigital HD,Blu-ray (2D and 3D) andDVD on October 14, 2014. The Blu-ray release also included a new CGIRocky & Bullwinkle short film.[34] As of February 2015, 3.4 million home entertainment units were sold.[35]
The film was planned to be theatrically accompanied with a DreamWorks Animation short film,Rocky & Bullwinkle,[36] based on the Rocky and Bullwinkle characters fromThe Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.[37][38] The short was directed byGary Trousdale, who is known for co-directing Disney'sBeauty and the Beast, produced by Nolan Cascino, and written byThomas Lennon andRobert Garant.[36]June Foray was set to reprise her role as Rocket "Rocky" J. Squirrel,[36] whileTom Kenny was set to voice Bullwinkle Moose. The short was originally planned as a test for a feature film with the characters.[39]Almost Home, a short based on the DreamWorks Animation filmHome, played before the film instead and plans for a Rocky and Bullwinkle movie was ultimatly scrapped.[40]
Mr. Peabody & Sherman grossed $111.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $164.2 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $275.7 million.[5] With a budget of $145 million,[5] the film underperformed, forcing DreamWorks Animation to take a $57 millionwrite-down on behalf of the film.[41]
In the United States and Canada,Mr. Peabody & Sherman was released alongside300: Rise of an Empire, and was projected to gross $30 million from 3,934 theatres in its opening weekend.[42][43] The film earned $8 million on its opening day,[44] and opened to number two in its first weekend, with $32.2 million, behind300: Rise of an Empire.[45]Forbes attributed the underperformed to lackluster marketing and lack of interest for the youngest moviegoers,[44] while Katharine Trendacosta ofGizmodo felt the low opening was because it was "too clever" for audiences.[46] In its second weekend, the film moved up to number one, grossing $21.8 million.[47] In its third weekend, the film dropped to number three, grossing $11.8 million.[48] In its fourth weekend, the film dropped to number four, grossing $9.1 million.[49]Mr. Peabody & Sherman completed its theatrical run in the United States and Canada on August 14, 2014.[43]
Mr. Peabody & Sherman has an approval rating of 81% based on 137 professional reviews on thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Mr. Peabody & Sherman offers a surprisingly entertaining burst of colorful all-ages fun, despite its dated source material and rather convoluted plot."[50]Metacritic (which uses a weighted average) assignedMr. Peabody & Sherman a score of 59 out of 100 based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[51] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[52]
Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian said: "(The film) takes a little while for the audience to get up to speed, but once this is achieved, there's an awful lot of unexpected fun to be had,"[53] whileMark Kermode of the sister paperThe Observer declared, "Pleasant to report, then, that DreamWorks' latest offers a fairly consistent stream of sight gags and vocal slapstick, even as the plot veers wildly down a wormhole in the time-space continuum."[54] Kevin McFarland ofThe A.V. Club gave the film a C+, saying, "Unlike the whimsical, slapstick-driven shorts on which it's based, this feature-length adaptation adds an obligatory emotional arc that feels at odds with the zany spirit of historical time-travel tales."[55]A. O. Scott ofThe New York Times gave the film a positive review, saying, "This DreamWorks Animation production, directed by Rob Minkoff (Stuart Little,The Lion King) from a screenplay by Craig Wright, is not perfect, but it is fast-moving, intermittently witty and pretty good fun."[56]Richard Roeper of theChicago Sun-Times gave the film a B, saying, "Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a whip-smart, consistently funny and good-natured film with some terrific voice performances and one of the most hilarious appearances ever by an animated version of a living human being."[57] Claudia Puig ofUSA Today gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying, "Mr. Peabody & Sherman is lively, educational and intermittently amusing. The fun, however, grows strained and formulaic as the movie goes on."[58] Michael Phillips of theChicago Tribune gave the film two out of four stars, saying, "The film's animation design is strictly generic in its rounded edges and dutiful 3-D IN YOUR FACE!!! gimmicks. And the story gets off to such a sour start, it takes a long time for the comedy to recover."[20]
Bill Goodykoontz ofThe Arizona Republic gave the film two and a half stars out of five, saying, "It retains the main characters, the WABAC machine, the trips through history – but not the sense of nuttiness that made the TV cartoon so delightful."[59] Colin Covert of theStar Tribune gave the film three out of four stars, saying, "What a relief to see that whileMr. Peabody's visuals are enhanced to sleek 21st-century standards, the essential charm of the series survives more or less intact."[60] Elizabeth Weitzman ofNew York Daily News gave the film three out of four stars, saying, "Burrell doesn't quite capture the wry deadpan of the original, but then, neither does the movie. That's okay."[61] Bruce Demara of theToronto Star gave the film three out of four stars, saying, "Kids of all ages are sure to enjoy this visually splendid, fast-paced blast through the past."[62] Betsy Sharkey of theLos Angeles Times gave the film a negative review, saying, "For all the ways the film reflects its earlier TV incarnation, the shadings have been softened.Mr. Peabody could use a bit more bite."[63] Soren Anderson ofThe Seattle Times gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying, "Frantically paced by director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King) and making very effective use of 3D – Hey! Get that sword out of my face! – the movie will surely appeal to kids."[64] Rafer Guzman ofNewsday gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying, "The movie has trouble stitching together disjointed episodes into a coherent narrative. Thanks to a strong voice cast, however, the characters retain their charm throughout."[65]
Leslie Felperin ofThe Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review, saying, "The film's saving grace is its character design and use of 3D techniques to speed things up in every sense when the plot starts to flag."[66] Liam Lacey ofThe Globe and Mail gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying, "Mr. Peabody is fast-paced and jammed with rib-poking historical references, but it couldn't be called witty, even on the broadly winking level of the original cartoon."[67] Stephen Whitty of theNewark Star-Ledger gave the film three out of four stars, saying, "Fifty years ago, animated entertainment was a lot quieter. But that was myMr. Peabody & Sherman. This is someone else's. And it should give them, and even a few open-minded parents, almost just as much giggly fun."[68]Owen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly gave the film a B, saying, "Mr. Peabody & Sherman has a zesty time mixing and matching historical figures, from Marie Antoinette to George Washington. Yet the movie never, to my mind, conjured quite the quirky effervescence of such brainiac animated features as theJimmy Neutron orSpongeBob SquarePants movies."[69] Michael O'Sullivan ofThe Washington Post gave the film one out of four stars, saying, "By visual standards alone, the characters, rendered in eye-popping 3-D, resemble nothing so much asMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade floats. They're just as lifeless and inexpressive, too."[70] Sean Daly of theTampa Bay Times gave the film a B, saying, "Before getting sucked into a what-the-wormhole ending that will scramble young brains, time-travel rompMr. Peabody & Sherman is a fast, fun 3-D getaway."[71]
Tom Huddleston ofTime Out gave the film two out of five stars, saying, "This feature-lengthMr Peabody & Sherman is by no means unbearable: there are a few decent gags, and the episodic plot just about manages to hold the interest. But there's little here for any but the most easy-to-please youngsters."[72] Eric Henderson ofSlant Magazine gave the film one and a half stars out of four, saying, "The film spent roughly a dozen years in development, and the moronic, corporate detritus from that long time warp is strewn about like so many improbable history lessons."[73] Steven Rea ofThe Philadelphia Inquirer gave the film three out of four stars, saying, "Mr. Peabody & Sherman has a cool, midcentury-modern look (dog and boy live in a populuxe Manhattan penthouse) and a voice cast that may not be A-list but fits the bill nicely."[74] David Gritten ofThe Daily Telegraph gave the film four out of five stars, saying, "It's sweet-natured and amusing, with a story to captivate kids; yet the script has enough witty touches to keep adults laughing too."[75]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Creative Arts Awards | January 28, 2015 | Best Feature Film – Animation | Mr. Peabody & Sherman | Nominated | [76] |
| Annie Awards | January 31, 2015 | Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production | Fangwei Lee, Krzysztof Rost, Jihyun Yoon, and Robert Chen | Nominated | [77] |
| Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in a Feature Production | Timothy Lamb and Joe Moshier | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production | Danny Elfman | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production | David James, Ruben Perez, Priscilla Wong, Timothy Lamb, and Alexandre Puvilland | Nominated | |||
| British Academy Children's Awards | November 23, 2014 | Kid's Vote — Film | Mr. Peabody & Sherman | Nominated | [78] [79] |
| Golden Trailer Awards | May 30, 2014 | Best Original Score | "Who's the Dog" (Buddha Jones) | Nominated | [80] [81] |
| Best Animation/Family TV Spot | "Who's the Dog" (Buddha Jones) | Nominated | |||
| Best Pre-show Theatrical Advertising for a Brand | "Odeon Premier Club" (Toy Box Entertainment) | Nominated | |||
| Best Viral Video or Campaign | "History Greatest Mystery" (Toy Box Entertainment) | Nominated | |||
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 4, 2014 | Best Original Song in an Animated Film | Peter Andre for "Kid" | Nominated | [82] [83] |
| Best Original Score in an Animated Film | Danny Elfman | Nominated |
An animated television series featuringMr. Peabody and Sherman, titledThe Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show premiered on October 9, 2015 onNetflix.[84] The series is based on the 1960s short film segments that aired as part ofThe Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, and it also takes some elements from the film.[84] After being revealed as time travelers at the end of the film, Mr. Peabody and Sherman launch a live TVvariety show, hosting various historical figures at their Manhattan penthouse.[84] The series is hand-drawn, with the Vancouver-basedDHX Media providing the animation.[84] Mr. Peabody is voiced byChris Parnell, while Max Charles reprises his role as Sherman from the film.[84] A soundtrack for the series was released digitally on October 2, 2015, and on CD in December 2015. Published byLakeshore Records, the album features original score and the opening theme song by Eric Goldman and Michael Corcoran (a.k.a. The Outfit), and new original songs byJukebox the Ghost,JD McPherson,Wordsworth andPrince Paul, andRa Ra Riot.[85]
...and their song "Way Back When" appeared on the soundtrack and closing credits of the 2014 feature film "Mr. Peabody and Sherman."
Company also took an impairment charge of $6.7 million from the production of a "Rocky and Bullwinkle" short that was to play in front ofMr. Peabody & Sherman.
According to Desowitz, Minkoff also said there will be a Rocky & Bullwinkle short in front of the Mr. Peabody & Sherman feature, with Rocky to be voiced by the venerable June Foray.
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