Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Director: Will Gluck
Writer: Beatrix Potter (original creator of Peter Rabbit), Will Gluck, Patrick Burleigh
Starring: James Corden (who I don’t actually hate in this, unlike the Friends reunion), Elizabeth Debicki, Margot Robbie, Aimee Horne, Lennie James, Domhall Gleeson, Rose Byrne, David Oyelowo, Colin Moody
Reason for watching: new release (I dragged my wife to this after she dragged me to the original one, that’s another story)
Number of times I’ve watched it: first time viewing
***
You know what? Screw it. I’ll just tell that story I alluded to in the intro article. After Jane and I had barely been dating for a month, I decided it would be a good idea to take her to see Annihilation. Up until that point we had seen Black Panther, Coco, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. I thought she might be adventurous to see a sci-fi/horror movie with me. It’s pretty tense for the first hour or so, but right at the end of the second act, there’s an absolutely horrifying scene with a mutated grizzly bear. Probably the scariest movie scene I’ve ever seen that involves a grizzly bear, and I’ve seen The Revenant too. While I’m halfway through the movie think, “This is pretty good,” I looked down and saw Jane had her head buried in my chest. She didn’t look up for the rest of the movie, which did include a weird ballet recital between Natalie Portman and an alien. Anyway, after Annihilation Jane didn’t let me pick a movie for almost two months. And because of that failure to make a good decision on my part, Jane decided that one weekend we were going to see Peter Rabbit. And it was a surprisingly decent experience. Did it warrant a sequel? Not really. Is this sequel still a good time? Heck yeah, it was!
“Blah Blah! Stop talking about your personal life, Sam! Tell us about the movie!”
Jeez, fine! Basically, we pick up where the last one ended. Peter Rabbit (James Corden) is living peacefully with his humans Thomas (Domhall Gleeson) and Bea (Rose Byrne), and Bea is having success writing stories about Peter and his siblings. Then Nigel (David Oyelowo) comes along and offers Bea a boatload of cash for her to sign with his business. Conflict ensues. Peter joins up with a group of street animals to starts pulling off heists for food, pushing his family further away.
The voice cast is quite impressive. Corden, Elizabeth Debicki, Margot Robbie, Aimee Horne, Colin Moody. There’s a ton of well-trained actors who have done much more impressive work. And yet they are willing to voice work for minor characters. The story and the ultimate message of supporting your family and loving it for what it is. It’s an inoffensive kids’ movie.
6/10
Dang! Did I actually enjoy this movie? And James Corden was actually the main character? What the heck? I’m so confused.
Until I see another one.