Can your dog play fetch? Unfortunately, mine cannot. It cuddles up before I go to sleep, being cute. But in the world of Sherman and Mr. Peabody a dog can play guitar, mix drinks, build a time machine, invent zumba and even adopt a kid.

Based off the early cartoons of the same characters, Dreamworks’ “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” follows the incredible exploits of the world’s smartest dog and his boy as they travel across time getting into mischief and giving children slightly askew looks into history.

As Sherman enters his first day at school he enters class and is picked on by his classmate Penny for his seemingly impossible knowledge for a boy his age. Put into a headlock and called a “Dog,” his adopted father’s ability to raise a child is put into question when Peabody bites her back. Arranging a dinner to remedy the situation puts Penny, Sherman and Mr. Peabody into the time machine and back into history where each of the characters’ relationships are explored in depth.

It should go without saying but being made by the people who made The Lion King, at depth there is an exploration of the characters and their relationships that tells a beautiful narrative. Mr. Peabody, for example, struggles at finding the line between expressing his feelings for his adopted son and watching him grow up. Sherman’s tale is of his own acceptance of who he is from under the shadow of his father and his own boundaries. Penny meanwhile must find her own way of understanding everything around her, while acting as the audience’s eyes into the stranger moments of the film. Through all this is a legitimately funny, heartwarming and engaging narrative that blows by at a quick pace.

A lot of thought and effort went into the visuals of the film as well. Over the top and cartoonish, the film nevertheless pushes it’s own boundaries in it’s attempts to set tone and pacing throught the film, fitting the exaggerated nature of the cartoon shorts while at the same time having their own modern charm about them.

Extra nods to the sound design, which stradles the line between cliches and parody in an extra fine saddle, but manages to keep to a tasteful compromise by being unobtrusive. The cast itself is fun, but offering their own take on the material. Their timing is impeccible, and they bring the characters to life with such an infectious energy and enthusiasm that it’s positively engaging. Likewise the soundtrack uplifts, understates and otherwise multiplies the feeling of the piece that it is a positive joy to listen to even divorced from the movie.

Overall, “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” is a fun, engaging movie that caters to everyone in it’s great characterization, quick humor and over the top, cartoonish appeal.