Peter Rabbit (PG.)
Directed by Will Gluck.
Starring James Corden, Domhnall Gleeson, Rose Byrne, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki and Daisy Ridley. 95 mins
No doubt the makers of this adaptation of Beatrix Potter's Victorian creation carefully studied the charming way the two Paddington films managed to update a slightly fusty children's classic without sacrificing the innocent magic of the original. They studied and they learned and then decided, to hell with it let's just put James Corden in it.
The choice of Corden – that shaven Fozzy Bear embodiment of 21st-century inequity and injustice – for the title role is emblematic of its hatefulness. Peter exclaiming "Let's do this" is the moment when you realise that this is a crass abomination. His is a name that looks good on a poster but sounds out of place on the screen. The makers of Paddington had the integrity to drop Colin Firth when he wasn't working out as the title character, and recast with Ben Whishaw. They knew that what you lose in Marquee value you make up for in getting it right.
I'm not precious about Beatrix Potter's creation (indeed, I have never read it so suspect a lot of this may be down to having a distorted view of what Peter Rabbit should be) but surely some acknowledgement should be made of these characters being creations of the Victorian era: it's not good enough to have them all talk in contemporary argot and indulge in Tom and Jerry level slapstick. The humour is often callous, such as the moment when Peter seems to revel in the fatal heart attack of his human enemy Mr McGregor (Sam Neill) and seeks to take credit for it.
And while we are on the carp: Potter's creations are inextricably linked with the Lake District, but because much of this was shot in Australia, there is no sense of the English landscape.
In the interest of balance, it should be conceded that the animal animation is very well done and very lifelike, there are some jokes that are both clever and funny, and kids seem to enjoy it. It's all very knowing and self-aware, which is just irksome if the film hasn't got you onside first. It's a self-destructive form of cleverness that trashes the thing it is supposed to celebrate.
Directed by Will Gluck.
Starring James Corden, Domhnall Gleeson, Rose Byrne, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki and Daisy Ridley. 95 mins
No doubt the makers of this adaptation of Beatrix Potter's Victorian creation carefully studied the charming way the two Paddington films managed to update a slightly fusty children's classic without sacrificing the innocent magic of the original. They studied and they learned and then decided, to hell with it let's just put James Corden in it.
The choice of Corden – that shaven Fozzy Bear embodiment of 21st-century inequity and injustice – for the title role is emblematic of its hatefulness. Peter exclaiming "Let's do this" is the moment when you realise that this is a crass abomination. His is a name that looks good on a poster but sounds out of place on the screen. The makers of Paddington had the integrity to drop Colin Firth when he wasn't working out as the title character, and recast with Ben Whishaw. They knew that what you lose in Marquee value you make up for in getting it right.
I'm not precious about Beatrix Potter's creation (indeed, I have never read it so suspect a lot of this may be down to having a distorted view of what Peter Rabbit should be) but surely some acknowledgement should be made of these characters being creations of the Victorian era: it's not good enough to have them all talk in contemporary argot and indulge in Tom and Jerry level slapstick. The humour is often callous, such as the moment when Peter seems to revel in the fatal heart attack of his human enemy Mr McGregor (Sam Neill) and seeks to take credit for it.
And while we are on the carp: Potter's creations are inextricably linked with the Lake District, but because much of this was shot in Australia, there is no sense of the English landscape.
In the interest of balance, it should be conceded that the animal animation is very well done and very lifelike, there are some jokes that are both clever and funny, and kids seem to enjoy it. It's all very knowing and self-aware, which is just irksome if the film hasn't got you onside first. It's a self-destructive form of cleverness that trashes the thing it is supposed to celebrate.
