Peter Rabbit 2

That lovable rogue Peter Rabbit is back in the sequel Peter Rabbit 2. After being delayed due to COVID the film is here just in time for school holidays. Regardless about what the “purists” might say about the film losing that innocence from the Beatrix Potter novel’s I really do think they need to see the film through the eyes of a young child and think about what’s going to entertain and make them laugh.

The film expands beyond the McGregor garden in to the big city opening Peter Rabbit (voiced by James Corden) up to some new adventures, mayhem and hijinks. This time he meets a street rabbit Barnabas (Lennie James) learning all the tricks and street smarts in scamming a living in the big city from a group of irate fresh produce traders at a local street fair. With dried fruit being highly sort after and the get of all gets Barnabas plots this major heist enlisting Peter Rabbit and his friends from the garden to pull this mission off.

Now Thomas McGregor (Domhall Gleeson) and Bea (Rose Byrne) are newly married and there’s a peaceful truce in the garden as long as Peter Rabbit stays away from the prized tomatoes. What could go wrong? Bea’s burgeoning career is about to take off based on series of drawing of Peter and his crew Flopsy (Margot Robbie), Mopsy (Elizabeth Debicki) and Cottontail (Aimee Horne) catching the eye of a publisher (David Oyelowo) in Gloucester who is determined to make her star even if it means portraying Peter Rabbit as a “villian” and the “bad Seed” to which he is devastated about taking off on his on adventure in the big city. Bea contemplates her options and whether her own artistic integrity is being compromised with the commercialisation of her ideas.

Enter Barnabas who introduces Peter Rabbit to the rest of the gang Tom Kitten (Damon Herriman), Mittens (Hayley Atwell) and fat rat Samuel Whiskers (Rupert Degas). There’s a few twists and turns as they attempt to pull off the big steal with trouble finding Peter Rabbit along the way testing his resilience.

The animation is really well done and taking the story out of the garden is a brilliant move which is complemented by an impressive cast. Equally as impressive is the soundtrack for the film. There’s enough clever adult funnies to keep it interesting for families who should be heading to cinemas to enjoy this one this school holidays.

Movie Review By Rob Lyon