While Mr. Peabody & Sherman does have some cultural recognition outside of the States (mostly through parodies on other shows), it might be a slightly tougher sell here and in other countries. Still, DreamWorks Animation is boldly giving it a shot, even if this first trailer doesn’t quite reach the heights of, say,** How To Train Your Dragon**. **
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Mr. Peabody, for those unaware, is the world’s smartest dog. Cultured, kind, witty and a little bit sniffy sometimes (not just around fire hydrants), he regularly entertains presidents and has even invented time travel via a machine called The Wabac (pronounced The Way Back).
He’s also adopted a human boy, Sherman, and is raising him as his son. When Mr. Peabody tries to get Sherman to befriend Penny, the result is an unauthorised trip back in time and a rip in the space / time continuum, which wreaks havoc on the most important events in world history.
Before they forever alter the past, present and future, Mr. Peabody must come to their rescue, ultimately facing the most daunting challenge of any era: figuring out how to be a parent. Together, the time traveling trio will make their mark on history.
Coming off a little like** Bill & Ted** in places, this looks a little less subtle than the likes of Dragon, but does at least boast the comedy voice stylings of Ty Burrell, Stephen Colbert, Ariel Winter, Leslie Mann, Stanley Tucci, Allison Janney, Patrick Warburton, and Mel Brooks.
The film is set for release on February 7.