Peter Rabbit (2018)
2018
Feature adaptation of Beatrix Potter's classic tale of a rebellious rabbit trying to sneak into a farmer's vegetable garden.
User Review
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Peter Rabbit is as fluffy as a bunny's tail. Well, this took me by surprise. James Corden, controversy, CGI animation, all the horrific ingredients to create a mass produced animation just to make money. Much to my dismay, I succumbed to the cuteness of the animated wildlife and came out filled with enjoyment. The heroic yet mischievous Peter Rabbit desires to rule his neighbour's garden of fruit and vegetables, however after the sudden passing of the old man his equally mean yet more nimble nephew takes control and tries to catch Peter and his family. Due to the realistic blend of human actors and CGI characters, this will consistently be compared to 'Paddington'. Whilst that is a much better film overall, don't dismiss this as a worthy comparison. Immediately (literally 18 seconds in) Peter bounces on screen, already infiltrating your senses with his quirky British wit and loveable personality. Was extremely unsure about Corden's voice acting, but actually it was decent and thought he suited the role very well. The dialogue between the other animals varied between sarcasm, puns and occasional emotional reflection. Some jokes hit, others misfire completely, yet the deliberate balance of wit and slapstick humour enables both younger and older audiences to enjoy this. Domhnall Gleeson was magnificent, showcasing his acting range with a more visually comedic prominent role which enhanced my susceptibility to the flick. Electric door knobs, blackberry slingshotting (don't we have other things to moan about instead? Come on) and a garden battle scene involving dynamite. One might call it 'Bunkirk'...or 'Rabbitsaw Ridge'...*cough* I'll leave now. I appreciated the original drawing animation harking back to Potter's beloved illustrations. Unfortunately my biggest gripe is how weak the story is. It's refreshing to see a low-key story, but the lack of peril and plot focus resulted in a story thinner than rabbit stew. Also, the over reliance of pop music grated on me. I understand the crass boisterous humour juxtaposes the source material, but resisting the film's spring is futile.0 member like this review.
