Gorgeous animation gives way to violence
Hollywood studios have recently pillaged the literary canon of beloved children’s literature, digging up fodder for animated feature films. The best of these, such as the “Paddington” movies, successfully meld nostalgia with modern and exciting filmmaking. The more questionable ones, such as the recent “Ferdinand” adaptation, manage to muddle the source material with too many pop songs and dirty jokes.
The new “Peter Rabbit” adaptation lands right in the middle — the animation technology is top-notch, but the gentle spirit of Beatrix Potter’s books is subsumed into a chaotic, violent mayhem, manically soundtracked to the day’s hits.
Will Gluck directed and co-wrote with Rob Lieber this adaptation of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” the story of naughty rabbit Peter (voiced by James Corden), who can’t help snacking from Mr. McGregor’s garden.
This version ups the ante significantly in the Garden Wars, especially when Mr. McGregor (Sam Neill) dies, and his fastidious nephew Thomas (Domhnall Gleeson) comes to Windermere. Thomas, hoping to sell off his uncle’s property to fund his own toy shop, finds that the “vermin” have moved in. And in fact, the anthropomorphized, clothes-wearing wildlife of this country village have hosted quite the produce-fueled rager in the McGregor home.
The photorealistic animation by Animal Logic is breathtaking, especially in the film's first few moments. The rabbits are extraordinarily lifelike, with their individual strands of soft fur and shiny eyes. When Peter hops into the arms of neighbor Bea (Rose Byrne) for a cuddle, it’s as if she’s holding the actual animal. Gluck showcases the animated creatures with actionpacked filmmaking featuring sophisticated camera movements.
But those whiz-bang tracking shots are all put in service of a shockingly savage and brutal war between Peter and his crew (Flopsy, Mopsy, CottonTail, Benjamin Bunny) and the fussy Thomas.
At first, Peter just wants to get at those sweet, sweet fruits and veggies. Then it becomes a matter of proving that he can, and, ultimately, of displaced jealousy over Thomas’ budding relationship with Bea, whom Peter sees as a mother (she’s a version of a modernized Potter, talking to and painting her furry friends).
The impish Peter takes the feud too far, and “Peter Rabbit” descends into a sadistic display of violence, as poor Gleeson is pounded, pummeled, battered, bruised, electrocuted and exploded at the paws of the brutal bunnies.
A clever little meta streak runs through “Peter Rabbit,” Will Gluck.
PG (for some rude humor and action) 1:33 at the Columbus 10 at Westpoint, Crosswoods, Dublin Village 18, Easton 30, Georgesville Square 16, Grove City 14, Lennox 24, Movies 11 at Mill Run, Movies 12 at Carriage Place, Movies 16 Gahanna, Pickerington, Polaris 18 and River Valley theaters
especially among the wildlife, who snark and joke and talk about their “character flaws,” make war movie references and “pour one out” for their fallen homie Mr. McGregor, all while bopping along to endless pop and hiphop tunes.
Ultimately, the lesson at hand is one of peaceful coexistence with the environment. The more you try to shut something out, the more it tries to fight back.
Another message centers on owning one’s actions and taking responsibility. But when a bunny misbehaves the way Peter does, apologies are necessary all around — perhaps even to the film's audience.
“Peter Rabbit.”