PETER RABBIT (Theatrical Release USA 2018)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Peter Rabbit—updated to the max—is not Beatrix Potter-style as we know her stories. Don’t expect a bedtime, time-to-go-to-sleep, easy-on-the-mind animation that even begins to resemble the wonderful, albeit more slowly rhythmed, children films such as Winnie the Pooh or Paddington Bear series. This little film is not a Mister Rogers Neighborhood movie crooning “Won’t You Come and Be My Neighbor.” Nevertheless, come and sit down without any such expectations and enjoy the ride because the script dialogue and the well-animated scenes come pouring in non-stop, fast and furious-styling. The characters’ personalities are well-developed from the get-go. The film even comes with a tidy little message that: sometimes, even with the best of intentions, our efforts to establish justice can work against ‘justice for all.’ The movie very easily deserves its sequel.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Peter Rabbit (voice James Corden) attempts to establish what he sees as social justice for all forest animals while Mr. MacGregor, who would just as soon see them in a pie, fights the unending battle of keeping them from eating from his garden.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Will Gluck for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Doug Belgrad, Catherine Bishop, Susan Bolsover, Jodi Hildebrand, Jonathan Hludzinski, Rob Lieber, Jason Lust, and Emma Topping for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Mr. Tod (voice of Fayssal Bazzi), Mr. Jeremy Fisher/Mr. Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson), Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice of Sia), Benjamin Bunny (voice of Colin Moody), Old Mr. McGregor/Tommy Brock (Sam Neill), Flopsy/The Narrator (voice of Margot Robbie), Mopsy (voice of Elizabeth Debicki), Cotton-Tail (voice of Daisy Ridley), Bea/Jemima Puddle Duck (Rose Byrne), Felix D’eer (voice of Christian Gazal), Pigling Bland (voice of Ewen Leslie), Harrods Worker (Natalie Dew), Harrods Worker (Terenia Edwards), and General Manager (Marianne Jean-Baptiste).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is not for the Peter Rabbit stories’ fan club. But it completely defines entertainment for the animated film fan—an excellent child/adult share film that satisfies both age groups.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers