Mr. Peabody & Sherman

March 16, 2014 - The classic TV cartoon from the Fifties and Sixties gets a big screen update, complete with a WABAC machine suitable for the 21st century. Ty Burrell of Modern Family fame provides the voice for the world's smartest dog. Other voices include Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, Allison Janney, Stanley Tucci, Mel Brooks and Patrick Warburton.

The plot of this animated feature revolves around super-smart beagle Mr. Peabody and his adopted boy, Sherman. Thanks to Mr. Peabody's time travel machine, Sherman has grown up with a first-hand look at history. But, all that knowledge doesn't go over well when Sherman starts school. He's ridiculed by classmates, particularly a pretty young girl named Penny.

In an effort to make peace with Penny and her parents, Peabody invites them over for dinner. But, kids will be kids, and before the evening is out, Mr. Peabody and Sherman will not only have to save Penny, but they'll have to put world history back in the past where it belongs.

Overall review: *** I found this updated take on Fractured Fairytales quite entertaining. There's enough action to keep the kids happy and enough references to history and to the original cartoon to amuse the adults. The movie is not big on historical accuracy, but that was never the point. Mostly, it's a story about the love between a boy and his dog, or in this case, a dog and his boy.