Review: Peter Rabbit

​2018’s Peter Rabbit is an insulting CGI update to the beloved tales of author Beatrix Potter. This low brow, bunny cringe fest would have Potter spinning in her grave. 

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​Where to begin? For starters, 2018’s Peter Rabbit features British actor James Corden voicing our beloved, carrot-happy friend. Let that sink in a bit. The Late Late Show host, Corden, has been wildly funny at times, like his karaoke carpool or his street theater. All are gleefully entertaining, but his casting choice as the famous hare who made his first appearance in 1902’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit, just didn't fit the part. I felt like I was watching an extended version of Corden’s Late Show that didn’t make it on the air. Mr. Corden voicing the CGI bunny felt closer to Russell Brand’s Hop (2011).

Yes, Peter has always been mischievous and disobedient to the garden of Mr. McGregor, but now director Will Gluck (Easy A and 2014’s Annie) has filled Peter’s adventures with gruesome pop culture and garbage comedy. Its re-imagery of Potter’s famous material is insulting to every Peter Rabbit purist out there. Yes, there's a big difference between this and the Paddington films. The Paddington films have been more carefully constructed to value the original source of material. Director Paul King brought Paddington to the 21st Century without sacrificing the bear's essential charm. Plus, both movies illustrate King’s ability to add-in a touch of his own art, visually and narratively. Paddington kept his wit and also proven to be an absolute delight without being stupid. I couldn’t say the same for Mr. Rabbit 2k18.

​There were some nice voice casting in this film, that included Daisy Ridley and Margot Robbie. But overall, this was a disaster to begin with. In the end, the modern cynicism thrown into this film was simply too much to handle and made you want to vomit. There's no way on Earth that Potter would have given the green light to this adaption of her work. I advise keeping your kids away from this horrendous pile of rotten cabbage and instead having them read the classic tales written by Potter herself, or even watching the 1990’s TV series, The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends, by BBC. After this, the world may need a break from Corden for a while… I know I do.  

Peter Rabbit is rated PG (Parental Guidance). For some rude humor and action, that includes animals throwing blackberries at a person with severe food allergies. By which, the character has to inject himself with an EpiPen and then has anaphylaxis and collapses. 😒 Full story and apology here by Sony.