BlueBastian is a fan of the Peter Rabbit TV show and has been excited about this film since he saw the first trailer. So, last weekend, we took him and SilentJudge to the cinema to watch the new Peter Rabbit movie. (more after the trailer below).
The Peter Rabbit Movie is not actually connected to the TV show in any way other than the Beatrix Potter property on which they are both based.
In the film, Peter Rabbit and his various young bunny relatives spend their time stealing vegetables from Mr. McGregor’s country garden while the old man tries to thwart their raids and turn them into rabbit pie. During one such encounter, old Mr. McGregor suffers a heart attack and dies. Peter Rabbit assumes ownership of the empty house and invites all his woodland friends in for a party.
Meanwhile, Mr. McGregor’s nephew, Thomas, is working in the toy department of Harrod’s in London and is informed of his uncle’s death. He responds with little emotion (they hardly knew each other), but loses both his temper and his job when told he has been overlooked for a promotion.
Peter Rabbit and friends with Bea (Rose Byrne). Image copyright: Sony Pictures. Source: sonypicturespublicity.com
Thomas goes to his uncle’s house in the country and, realising it could be used to finance his dream of opening his own toyshop, decides to sell it. While there he meets his late uncle’s neighbour Bea, a would-be painter who is friendly toward the rabbits, and begins to fall in love with her.
Slapstick hijinks ensue as Thomas employs increasingly extreme measures to eradicate the rabbit menace while trying to hide the fact from Bea.
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The film is quite fun and entertaining with a handful of laugh out loud moments. BlueBastian was in fits of laughter at times, particularly during the scenes of comedic electrocution.
The computer animated rabbits are very well rendered with apparent life and weight. Their movement and interaction with the environment is very nicely done. The rest of their various animal friends are equally well done (apart from some uncanniness surrounding the pig in particular). The members of the voice cast (including James Corden, Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie, and Sia among others) do a decent job of giving the the animals individual personalities.
Peter Rabbit with Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson). Image copyright: Sony Pictures. Source: sonypicturespublicity.com
Domhnall Gleeson turns in a solid, if deliberately unlikeable, turn as the younger McGregor and throws himself in to the more physical aspects of the role. Rose Byrne makes the character Bea quite sweet if somewhat oblivious to the truth of those around her.
The film is not without problems though. Firstly, it bares little resemblance to the Beatrix Potter stories other than using the main characters. It could easily have given everyone different names and not suffered in any material way - other than in the percentage of box-office takings that the Peter Rabbit name undoubtedly brings in. The character of Bea is likeable but the device of her ‘proper’ paintings being child-like surrealism, while the doodles she does for fun are the original Beatrix Potter works, seems somewhat unlikely. Beyond that, and perhaps most problematic, is that there is an amount of meanness to a lot of the humour that just feels unnecessary - particularly when compared to something like the recent Paddington films. This, it could be argued, is unavoidable given the conflict between the rabbits and the McGregors but it still diminishes the film overall.
Another list of things we purchased. This time DIY and loft related.