Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a 2014 American animated science fiction comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and based on characters from the "Peabody's Improbable History" segments of the animated television series Rocky & Friends. It was directed by Rob Minkoff, written by Craig Wright, and features the voices of Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, and Allison Janney. In the film, Mr. Peabody (Burrell) and his adoptive human son Sherman (Charles) use the WABAC, a time machine, to embark on time travel adventures. When Sherman accidentally rips a hole in the universe by taking the WABAC without permission to impress his classmate Penny Peterson (Winter), they must find themselves to repair history and save the future. 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 initially set to write the screenplay, based on a pitch by Minkoff and his longtime producing partner Jason Clark. Mr. Peabody & Sherman was released theatrically in the United States by 20th Century Fox on March 7, 2014 and received generally positive reviews from critics. Despite grossing $275 million worldwide against a budget of $145 million, the film underperformed by DreamWorks' standards, and was a box-office flop. Along with Penguins of Madagascar later that year, it lost the studio $57 million. It was followed by a television series, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, in 2015.
Plot Mr. Peabody is a highly intelligent anthropomorphic dog who lives in a New York City penthouse with his adopted human son, Sherman. Peabody uses a time machine called the WABAC to teach Sherman history. On Sherman's first day of school, he corrects classmate Penny Peterson about the historicity of the George 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, a child protective services agent. Grunion plans to investigate Peabody's home and remove Sherman from his custody 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 to the WABAC, and she stays in Ancient Egypt to marry King Tut. Sherman enlists Peabody's help to retrieve her, and Penny agrees to leave after learning that she will be entombed with Tut when he dies. On the return journey to the present, the WABAC loses power, forcing an unplanned stop at the home of Leonardo da Vinci in Renaissance Florence, where Sherman and Penny test da Vinci's flying machine and crash it. Afterwards, he learns of Ms. Grunion's intentions from Penny and argues with Peabody as they try to escape a black hole. A further WABAC malfunction lands the trio in the middle of the Trojan War, where Sherman joins Agamemnon's army. Peabody saves Penny and Sherman from falling off a cliff within the Trojan Horse, appearing to die in the process. Seeking help from the past version of Peabody, Sherman and Penny time-travel back to earlier that evening, leading 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, the sight of Grunion hurting Sherman causes Peabody's dog instincts to bite her, and she calls the New 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 as Peabody, Penny, and Sherman try to escape. When the WABAC crashes in Grand Army Plaza, Peabody faces arrest, but Sherman, the Petersons, and the historical figures come to his defense. As the rip worsens, Sherman proposes travelling to the future to repair the damage, and they do. The historical figures are taken back to their respective eras and Agamemnon, smitten with Grunion, takes her with him. Sherman returns to school, having befriended Penny and strengthened his bond with Peabody. Meanwhile, history has incorporated modern culture, while Agamemnon marries Grunion.
Voice cast
Ty Burrell as Hector J. Peabody, a talking intelligent white beagle, business titan, inventor, scientist, Nobel laureate, gourmet chef, and two-time Olympic medalist. Max Charles as Sherman, Peabody's 7-year-old adopted son. Ariel Winter as Penny Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson's 7-year-old daughter and Sherman's classmate. Stephen Colbert as Paul Peterson, Penny Peterson's father and Patty's husband. Leslie Mann as Patty Peterson, Paul's wife and Penny's mother. Allison Janney as Edwina Grunion, a stocky and corrupt agent from Bureau of Child Safety and Protection and school counselor. Stephen Tobolowsky as Principal Purdy, the principal of Sherman's school. Stanley Tucci as Leonardo da Vinci Adam Alexi-Malle as a French peasant Patrick Warburton as King Agamemnon Zach Callison as King Tut Steve Valentine as Ay, King Tut's Vizier. Dennis Haysbert as a judge who grants Mr. Peabody the custody of Sherman. Leila Birch as the WABAC Karan Brar as Mason, one of Sherman's friends. Joshua Rush as Carl, another one of Sherman's friends who also wears glasses and is seen in a wheelchair. Thomas Lennon as Italian Peasant #2 In addition to Leonardo da Vinci, King Agamemnon, and King Tut, the film features other historical figures including Albert Einstein (Mel Brooks), Mona Lisa (Lake Bell), Marie Antoinette (Lauri Fraser), Maximilien Robespierre (Guillaume Aretos), George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Clinton, Isaac Newton (all voiced by Jess Harnell), Odysseus (Tom McGrath), Ajax the Lesser (Al Rodrigo) and Spartacus (Walt Dohrn).
Production
Development
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