Film Name: 天才眼镜狗 / Mr. Peabody and Sherman
If “The Croods” is a story about family, then “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” is unmistakably a story about fatherhood. Mr. Peabody, the “smartest dog” who adopted young Sherman, is merely one embodiment of the father figure—a motif that permeates the entire film.
Penny’s father goes without saying, but perhaps we should also note these characters: For instance, while we focus on the gimmick of Da Vinci and the Mona Lisa, we overlook how he condensed his paternal love into a robotic child. Though he once deemed it a failed creation, he ultimately embraced it. When we fixate on the gimmick of the Trojan Horse soldiers’ body odor, we overlook the fatherly gesture of Sherman hoisting Sherman onto his shoulders. He fulfills the paternal role that the rational yet frail Peabody cannot, creating a complementary dynamic.
When Sherman evolves from a confused, lost child adopted by a dog to bravely declaring himself a dog, we realize that “father” doesn’t define by wealth or poverty, human or canine, strength or frailty, youth or age, fame or obscurity. Its sole meaning lies in the profound love he holds within for his child.
No matter how deep Peabody’s knowledge or how great his abilities, there are moments when even he cannot solve a problem. The only time in the film he returned to his true self, solving the problem in a dog’s way—by biting. If solving extraordinarily difficult problems through precise calculations and vast knowledge can be called brilliant, then solving that problem with the most basic bite can be called truly moving. In that moment, even if he “lost” all his noble abilities, he would defend his child in the most primal way.
Peabody, like other fathers, meticulously prepared everything for his child, only to be met with rebellion. The child craved his father’s care, but yearned even more for his approval. Sherman leaped off the Trojan horse without hesitation, solely to prove himself. Every father must eventually face the moment of letting go, allowing his child to fly on their own. From his overprotective scolding of Sherman for piloting the Da Vinci flying machine to his trust in letting Sherman operate the time machine, Peabody completed this transformative journey of daring to let go.
I believe a crucial line in the film is when Peabody tells Sherman, “In formal settings, address him as Mr. Peabody. Otherwise, just call him Peabody.” The significance of titles extends far beyond what we might imagine—whether it’s the virtue of respect and humility conveyed by adding “Mr.,” or the sense of freedom and equality implied by omitting it. This reflects Peabody’s educational philosophy, deeply rooted in the essence of human culture, and in fact represents the American educational ethos. In China, addressing one’s father by his full name in any setting is absolutely unthinkable.
Therefore, rather than portraying “just another dog,” the film depicts “just another father.” The dog, the glasses, the bow tie—these are merely external elements. What truly matters is the heart of a father who loves his son, hidden behind them.
PS: Finally, a point that may or may not relate to the film’s theme—about the social investigator.
Women in the film aren’t portrayed in a particularly favorable light. Beyond Penny’s jealousy, the female social investigator even emerges as the ultimate antagonist. Ironically, social investigators are supposed to use their authority to mediate conflicts and bring goodness and happiness to society. Yet this obese woman in the film wears tinted glasses, letting preconceived notions cloud her judgment. She threatens ordinary citizens with harsh, merciless words, determined to tear apart a warm family to prove her so-called justice.
This character is far more realistic than Mr. Peabody, representing a group of people who cloak themselves in moral labels while committing immoral acts. It’s worth pondering: does society grant such individuals a platform, or do people inevitably drift toward this path once they gain influence?
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