Peter Rabbit--Not much in common with the classic books.

This is not your grandparents’ Peter Rabbit.  

James Cordon voices a hyperactive, short sighted, selfish, bossy Peter Rabbit.  Elizabet Debicki plays the Mopsy the oldest sister, Margot Robbie, played Flopsy Rabbit, the middle sister, and Daisy Ridley plays Cottontail the youngest sister and the loose canon of the family.

The original books Peter Rabbit spent his time getting into out of trouble in Mr. McGregor’s garden.  Mr. McGregor is played by Sam Neill, who is nearly unrecognizable in character make-up.  Peter Rabbit causes Mr. McGregor so much trouble that he has a heart attack when he actually catches Peter.  

Thus enters Thomas McGregor, the nephew of Mr. McGregor played my Dohnall Gleason.  Thomas McGregor is an uptight, OCD manager in the toy department of Harrods department store, who loses his job when he learns he is passed over for a promotion due to a case of nepotism, and he loses his temper.

While at home he learns that Mr. McGregor was his uncle and he nows owns Mr. McGreogor’s house.  He has no desire to go to the country and become a farmer.  When he arrives he meets the neighbor, Bea played by Rose Byrne, and instantly falls for her.

Bea has been protecting Peter Rabbit from the late Mr. McGregor, so Peter is jealous that Bea is giving Thomas attention.  This love triangle is the conflict for the movie.  The movie is busy, silly, and hyperactive.  The soundtrack is a mix of Vampire Weekend, Rancid, Basement Jaxx, Dave Mathews, and others.  It’s a fun soundtrack, but that’s about the only enjoyable element of the movie.

The movie is full on slap stick and silliness—dynamite is involved at one point.  At one point, Thomas hears Peter Rabbit speak.  I don’t know why the movie makers made that part of the story.  Yes, the animals speak to each to other, but it really seems to change the universe of the story once Bea and Thomas realize the animals can speak.

The only thing this movie has in common with the original books, are the names of the characters.  The tone and sensibility are lost.

There are better children’s movies out there, Paddington 2 is far better.

I saw this movie because my daughter saw the ads and wanted to see it.  She enjoyed it.  It was silly and hyper.  

But unlike the books this isn’t a classic.