Peter Rabbit

2018  PG  COMEDY  1h 35min

CAST— Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, Sam Neill, Daisy Ridley, Elizabeth Debicki, Margot Robbie, James Corden

MUSIC— Dominic Lewis  DIRECTOR—Will Gluck  BASED ON— Characters appearing in stories by Beatrix Potter

     For anyone who ever grew up with the genteel tales of Beatrix Potter, the thought of a modernized reworking of that world may cause some trepidation. But fear not; this surprisingly delightful interpretation is a funny and heartwarming tribute to those works. A close knit family of rabbits, led by big brother Peter, are perpetually invading the vegetable garden of mean old Mr. McGregor, who has a nasty temper and a fondness for rabbit pie. Thankfully, if things get hot the rabbits can seek safety with Bea, animal-loving neighbor to Mr. McGregor. When McGregor suffers a fatal heart attack, Peter, his family and the local wildlife claim the garden as their own, celebrating with a rowdy party inside the late farmer's house. But they didn't know there's soon to be a new occupant: McGregor's grandnephew Thomas, a meticulous perfectionist if ever there was one, arrives from London to appraise the estate, now a vegetable-strewn mess full of what he considers to be vermin. But how can he be angry at these creatures when his beautiful new neighbor seems to love them so? Secretly, that's how. Though charmed by Bea, when out of her sight he wages all out war on the tenacious rabbits, with ringleader Peter his primary target. But Peter refuses to go down without a fight. In fact, he's pretty good at countering any threats Thomas throws at them, devising some fairly crafty moves, himself. As the war escalates, so does the romance between Bea and Thomas, but will Thomas's secret hatred of all things Lepus spell doom for this budding relationship? This film, containing plenty of laughs and don't-try-this-at-home antics, offers a fresh look at classic characters, without becoming a heartless exercise in crude humor, one might add. The spot on vocal performances shine as does the cuteness factor, the animated anthropomorphic critters being memorable as well as lovable. A few things may come off as unnecessarily harsh (like Peter and the McGregors trying to straight up destroy one another) but the takeaway is all about entertainment, which this film abundantly, joyfully supplies.

OUR RATING— ***