— by Donna Gustafson
PARENT PREVIEWS –
Making Media Entertainment An Easier Choice For Families
Peter
Rabbit
PG
OVERALL RATING:
B+
COLUMBIA/SONY
PICTURES
Released on DVD:
May 1, 2018
VIOLENCE: (C+) Humans and animals pit their wits against one another, as they war over rights to
a garden, home and affection. Many slapstick antics occur. Some of the actions are mean-spirited.
A fox growls, bares his teeth and claws, and looks like he’s ready to pounce on a rabbit. Characters
are reminded of the dangers of stealing vegetables from a farmer: a father rabbit is caught (shown)
and killed (implied), then baked into a pie. Despite these warning, animals continue to vandalize
his property and take his produce -- moments of peril ensue. Animals and people are threatened
with garden tools, traps, electric fences and explosives. Property damage and destruction occurs.
Characters wreck a house and play pranks on others during an evening of reckless partying.
Characters are pelted with objects, one is hit in the groin. A character suffers a heart attack and later
dies. Another has a serious allergic reaction. An angry character has a mental breakdown and starts
wrecking things. Although many of the situations depicted would be dangerous in real life (allergic
reactions, electrocutions, explosions), most are played for laughs in this movie. Small children may
find some of these depictions frightening.
SEXUAL CONTENT: (B+) Comments are made about the animal characters wearing jackets and
aprons, but not pants. A character attempts to drink water out of toilet. Mild potty humor is included.
A character’s partially exposed backside is seen. Another character’s pants are pulled down exposing
his boxer shorts. Characters infrequently embrace and kiss.
LANGUAGE: (A-) Infrequent profanity and mild name-calling occur.
ALCOHOL / DRUG USE: (B+) A character smokes a pipe. Drinking
alcohol is briefly shown. Medication is injected in an emergency situation.
I
grew up reading The Tale
of Peter Rabbit, and many
of Beatrix Potter’s other
children’s books. I was enchanted by
the beautiful watercolor illustrations,
not as much by her curious stories.
Although those memories don’t
make me an expert, there is one thing
I feel pretty sure about – the author
would never have imagined her work
being turned into this computer-
animated/live-action movie. Taking
artistic license in leaps and bounds,
this adaption of her bunny book
brings the character to a whole new
level of mischievousness.
Despite the dangers of scavenging
for food in Mr. McGregor’s garden,
Peter (voice of James Corden) delights
in tormenting the farmer (played by
Sam Neill) while stealing his vegetables.
Ignoring the warning of his own father’s
demise at McGregor’s hands, the
rascally rebel leads regular raids with
his partners in crime: sisters Flopsy,
Mopsy and Cottentail (voices of Margot
Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki and Daisy
Ridley), and cousin Benjamin (voice of
Colin Moody).
One day, after Peter has a
particularly perilous encounter with
the old man, McGregor succumbs to
a heart attack (we see his collapsed
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with critters, he is quick to evict the
trespassers.
body). The rabbit quickly claims victory
over his nemesis and offers to share his
spoils. Pigs, badgers, squirrels, ducks,
hedgehogs and a fox (as well as just
about everything else you can think of)
happily move into the deceased farmer’s
yard and house.
But this moment of triumph
doesn’t last long because the deed to
the property is soon handed over to
his great nephew, Thomas McGregor
(Domhnall Gleeson). The city-slicker
has no interest in living in the country
manor, but thanks to a recent job loss,
and subsequent emotional breakdown,
the younger McGregor has plenty of
time and reasons to take a trip to the
quaint English village and look over his
inheritance. Finding the place infested
That is when his neighbor gets
involved. Bea (Rose Bryne) is an
artist, nature enthusiast and special
friend to Peter. Introducing herself,
she invites Thomas to be more
affectionate with the local wildlife
than was his great uncle. Although
she doesn’t succeed in convincing
him to love the flora and fauna as she
does, Thomas certainly notices this
girl next door. And that presents a
second reason for Peter to want to be
rid of the interloper.
Most of the movie’s runtime is filled
with the silly shenanigans and slapstick
violence that ensue from this rivalry.
While the antics are played for humor,
they are occasionally mean-spirited.
Little ones may find the physical comedy
a bit frightening, especially when
characters are repeatedly electrocuted,
bombarded with vegetables, caught in
traps, and threatened with explosives.
A scene where Peter Rabbit knowingly
causes a character to have a severe
allergic reaction may be upsetting, as
well as dangerous if it were mimicked
by children.
Yet for all this frivolity, the script
manages to maintain a sense of warm-
continued on page 21
June 2018 WNY Family 19