Mr. Peabody and Sherman

Depending upon their age bracket, most moviegoers either have never seen “Peabody’s Improbable History” or have essentially forgotten about it.

Fortunately, either end of the age spectrum should find enjoyment in Mr. Peabody and Sherman, a feature-length adaptation of the aforementioned segment of the classic Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoon variety show that places its two eponymous characters in the spotlight for the first time.

The big-screen version trades in the rudimentary hand-drawn animation of the source material for computer-generated 3D. Yet despite a greater emphasis on visual spectacle, the film mostly retains the spirit of its predecessor.

The film shifts the action to present day, but not for long, given the time-travel proclivities of Mr. Peabody (voiced by Ty Burrell), the intellectual talking beagle who invented the WABAC time machine, and Sherman (Max Charles), the orphaned boy he adopted.

Their adventures include visiting Marie Antoinette, George Washington, Leonardo da Vinci, and King Tut, barely escaping life-threatening danger each time. But a bigger dilemma lies closer to home, where Sherman is being bullied by Penny (Ariel Winter), a classmate who later turns into an ally as Peabody’s parenting skills are questioned by a social worker (Allison Janney) who wants to split the two apart.

Perhaps the biggest achievement for Mr. Peabody and Sherman is its ability to introduce the characters to a new generation of youngsters — who are the target demographic, after all — while not alienating their parents who fondly recall the original sketches.

The episodic screenplay by television veteran Craig Wright (“Six Feet Under”) deserves credit for not dumbing down Peabody’s high-brow puns and historical references, some of which might sail over the heads of small children. But they might learn a thing or two along the way.

As directed by Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), the animation is crisp and colorful, and the pace remains lively throughout, although the story becomes somewhat chaotic and convoluted in the final act. The voice cast is solid, and includes several cameos.

The film expands the material to feature length without sacrificing some solid laughs and nostalgic charm. Such a structure necessitates adding depth to the characters, which doesn’t feel forced in this case.

This definitely isn’t your average boy-and-his dog story, and it’s not even a dog-and-his-boy story. Rather, it’s a surprisingly fresh father-and-son tale that’s both poignant and amusing.

Rated PG, 92 minutes.