A One Mann’s Movies review of “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” (2021).
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
So, I appreciate I’m over 2 months late in seeing “Peter Rabbit 2”. But the grandkids were staying for the weekend and wanted to see it again!
Lovable or highly irritating? It’s probably a personal view. (Source: Sony Pictures).
Plot Summary:
Bea (Rose Byrne) and Thomas (Domnhall Gleeson) are finally married and living in relative harmony with their animal friends in their countryside cottage. Although Peter Rabbit always seems to be getting onto the wrong side of Thomas, especially in regards to his prized tomatoes. Bea is on the verge of a major book deal about their furry friends. But on a trip to Gloucester to see the publisher, Nigel Basil-Jones (David Oyelowo), Peter befriends some unscrupulous characters that take him towards the dark side with more serious criminal activities.
The talented human cast – Oyelowo, Byrne and Gleeson. (Source: Sony Pictures).
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Rose Byrne, Domnhall Gleeson, James Corden, David Oyelowo.
Directed by: Will Gluck.
Written by: Will Gluck and Patrick Burleigh. (Based on the characters of Beatrix Potter).
The evils of sugary sweets – a joke not lost on parents! (Source: Sony Pictures).
“Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” Review:
Positives:
- This time the movie manages – “Paddington 2” style – to find a good balance between slapstick jokes that appeal to the target younger audience (my grandkids were roaring at certain bits) and the ‘dragalong’ adult audience. Some of these are gorgeously surreal – like the skiing badger in the Alps as a “university prank”. It certainly passes the “6 laugh” test for a comedy, and generated a couple of good guffaws (the Austin Powers landing in the Aston Martin and the subsequent take-off was one for me).
- In the first movie, James Corden’s voicing of Peter Rabbit tended to grate with me enormously. Here he gamely plays up to that, accepting that he is a “polarizing” character with a lot of people. It’s a fine comic moment.
- Rose Byrne and Domnhall Gleeson make a cute and watchable couple. (Rose Byrne could read the phone directory for me). They are well supported here by David Oyelowo (“Don’t look into his eyes”) who is the least villanous villain in any movie in recent memory! Also fun are trying to spot the guest voice artistes who include Margot Robbie, Sia, Elizabeth Debicki, Sam Neill, Lennie James and Hayley Atwell.
Danger’s his middle name! (Source: Sony Pictures).
Negatives:
- A few of the jokes don’t quite land (a one-note cockeral story, for example, is overplayed).
- As I’ve been doing some Supporting Artist work recently, I’ve become obsessed with observing Extras and the continuity of Extras in shots. There are a few inconsistencies in the mix on this one, particularly during the ‘fruit stall’ scene (as per the picture below)!
Friends can sometimes have darker motives. Lennie James voices the rascally Barnabas. (Source: Sony Pictures).
Summary Thoughts on “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway”:
It’s fair to say (although I never actually wrote a full review for it) that I was NOT a fan of the original Peter Rabbit movie from 2018. Corden grated; there was not enough for adult viewers and some of the included scenes were highly questionable: try explaining to a three-year-old why Peter was stabbing a dead old man in the eye with his finger! I’ve avoided watching it again on the TV like the plague.
This sequel was, I thought, much better, being entertaining for both kids and adults. I wonder if I now watched the first movie I might find it, in hindsight, more palatable? Perhaps I will give it a try sometime.
By the way…
Watch out for an amusing addition during the ‘shiny water bowl scene’ in the publisher’s office. At the end, when Flopsy (or Mopsy!) holds it up to the camera, you can see reflected a rabbit holding a sound boom. Great attention to detail!
Trailer:
The trailer for “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euGHcnyUo84.
Bob, we watched this over the weekend and loved it as a kids and adult movie. Spot on with your review. Might have to watch the first one now !
Thanks Martin. I’ve seen it again since then (another set of grandkids!) and enjoyed it just as much the 2nd time.