PETER RABBIT
US/Australia, 2018, 97 minutes, Colour.
Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, James Corden, Elizabeth Debicki, Margot Robbie,
Directed by Will Gluck.
Peter Rabbit is one of the most liked characters from the Tales by Beatrix Potter. Her children’s stories have the touch of the genteel – but Peter, in this version, could in no way be called genteel. He is something of a trickster, something of a leader of the other rabbits, shrewd and often cunning.
This version of Peter Rabbit story is a blend of animation, the drawings very much like the illustrations in the Beatrix Potter books, and live-action. There are some striking scenes of London and its landmarks. But, most of the rest of the film was made in New South Wales, standing in for the English countryside.
Part of the amusement of the film is the recognition of the voices, especially James Cordon who voices Peter with a touch of mischief. His sisters are voiced by Margot Robbie, who also narrates the film, Elizabeth Debicki and Daisy Ridley. With the film being made in Australia, there are assorted Australian voices throughout the film including Ewen Leslie and, for a rather dapper mouse who guides the rabbits around London, David Wenham. Peter’s parents are seen in the picture in Bea’s house – they have words of wisdom for Peter, voiced by Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown.
The setting for the film are the English woods as well as a country house with an artist studio attached. This is where Bea, an artist, played by Rose Byrne, does her work. Nearby is a vegetable garden worked on by a very crotchety old man, Sam Neill. He is the target for Peter and the rabbits, tantalising him and, of course, plundering his vegetable garden. When he dies, his nephew who has suffered a breakdown working at Harrods in London, Alexander, played by Domhnall Gleeson, comes down to get the uncle’s mansion ready for sales. Like his uncle, he is very wary of the rabbits, trying to block up every possible entry, every hole, every fence, every gate.
But, Bea has more than a soft spot for the rabbits and, despite being attracted by Alexander, is upset at his anti--rabbit tactics, especially when there are explosives around the fields. This is not helped at all when Peter actually detonates some of the explosives and one of them uproots an enormous tree which crashes down on Bea’s studio.
So, a visit to London, to find Alexander at Harrods. Peter goes with Benji, gets a tour of London, encounters Alexander trying to do his best again at Harrods but they cause absolute mayhem.
The only possible result is that they all go back happily to the countryside, Alexander returning and is reconciled with Bea – and there is free access for the rabbits to the vegetable garden.
There is probably enough to amuse a children’s audience but there is a lot of frantic action, the old man seen dying on screen, explosions – and a couple of rather rude jokes.
1. The popularity of Beatrix Potter’s Tales? Love for Peter Rabbit and the other characters? Expectations for this film?
2. A contemporary interpretation? The live-action? The animation and the style of the illustrations for Beatrix Potter stories? The musical score and the amusing use of songs?
3. The strong voice cast and the narration?
4. The effect of the animation, the rabbits, the humans, action? Delightful in origin?
5. The impact of the live-action? The locations, Windemere, the countryside, the woods, the artist’s house and studio, the mansion, the gardens, the vegetables? The contrast with the scenes of London, all the sites? Harrods and the interiors? The musical score?
6. The introduction with the birds singing, audience anticipation of sweetness – and then Peter rushing through them? The return of the birds at the end and Peter joining in the song?
7. The story of Peter Rabbit, his appearance, James Corden’s voice, intonations, serious and comic? The interactions with old Mc Gregor? The rights to the vegetables in the garden, going in, Benjamin, getting old, going in with Peter? The sisters as lookouts? McGregor? as crotchety, pursuing the rabbits, the traps, in his beard? Bea and her pleasant manner and reassuring him? His collapse?
8. Bea, by herself, artist? Loving the rabbits? Considering them sweet? The encounter with Alexander, the attraction? Talking with him, wanting to keep the gate open for the rabbits?
9. Alexander, the breakdown in London, at Harrods, wanting to sell his uncle’s mansion, to open a toy shop near Harrods? His work, fixing the gate, blocking all the entries for the rabbits? Ultimately setting up explosives? The attraction to Bea?
10. Peter and his personality, his sisters and their personalities, voices? Benjamin Bunny? The other woodland animals, the pig, and the pig intervening at the end?
11. Peter and his tormenting Alexander, the lengths that he went to, personal? Alexander and his exasperation? Denying the explosions to Bea? Peter and his detonating, the uprooting of the tree, falling on Bea’s studio? Her reaction to Alexander? Defending the rabbits?
12. Alexander, going to London, the manager at Harrods, the possibility of getting his job back, his knowledge of the departments? His taking the job?
13. The rabbits, catching the train to London, Benjamin and his awkwardness? Arriving in London, meeting the rat, very urban British, showing them the sites, the flags and glasses? Their going to Harrods? Talking to Alexander, his not sure whether he was hearing the voices or whether it as all in his mind? The chases, causing the mayhem?
14. The return home, the couple who were buying the mansion, the rabbits setting up the electric shock and the doorbell, the mess in the house? The clients leaving?
15. Peter, his confession, revealing the detonator? His being sorry? And his appeal to his parents – and their talking to him from the picture? Reassuring him? Her love for him and his sisters?
16. The happy ever after, Alexander and Bea? The vegetables and the rabbits? The other animals?
17. Happy fantasy for young audiences – and for those who remember the tales of Beatrix Potter from their childhood?
