Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Unlike last weekend's Spirit Untamed, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is smart enough to speak to children and occasionally to adults.  For the kids, there's plenty of the slapstick humor they love, while accompanying adults might find themselves chuckling at some of the one-liners and knowing humor that pokes fun at movie franchises, and beloved children's books that get modernized into blockbuster material.  This kind of humor can get tiresome quickly, but returning co-writer and director Will Gluck knows when to be sarcastic and satirical, and when to be sweet.

You might remember that 2018's Peter Rabbit caused a bit of controversy, particularly a scene where the rambunctious rabbit triggered an allergy attack on a human foe.  This new film finds Peter (once again voiced by James Corden) trying to mend his ways with his former adversary, the gardener Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson).  The two have reached a truce of sorts, and Peter has even allowed Thomas to marry his human protector Bea (Rose Byrne).  Of course, Peter still can't help but escape into fantasies where he causes chaos like the old days, and Thomas doesn't exactly fully trust Peter around his prized tomatoes.  As for Bea, she has begun writing children's books about Peter, cousin Benjamin (voice by Colin Moody), and sisters Flopsy (voice by Margot Robbie), Mopsy (voice by Elizabeth Debicki) and Cottontail (voice by Aimee Horne).  

Said book catches the attention of a slick publisher with the very British name of Nigel Basil-Jones (David Oyelowo), who not only has visions of elaborate sequels in mind where Peter and the other rabbits go surfing and into outer space, but enormous franchise potential with movies.  This is where the film's knowing sense of humor comes into play, as Bea is initially afraid that her sweet and simple little book is going to be turned into a franchise she doesn't even recognize anymore with a blockbuster movie attached. ("Most likely by an American director", she adds.) As for Peter, he is shocked when Nigel's plans for the book series seem to paint the rabbit as a "bad seed".  This, combined with Thomas not fully trusting him, makes Peter wonder just how people see him because of his past deeds.  It's about this time that he encounters a city rabbit named Barnabas (voice by Lennie James), who leads a gang of animal thieves that are targeting a local Farmer's Market, and rope Peter and his friends into their plans.

Peter Rabbit 2 is about as energetic as a kid's movie could and should be, and no doubt it will delight them with the scenes built around painful comedic slapstick.  There are even some clever physical gags on display, such as the subplot concerning little Cottontail becoming obsessed with jelly beans and going on the ultimate sugar rush.  However, just like before, the movie is just as gifted with its verbal and word humor that can hold the interest of adults.  There are some clever nods here not just to Hollywood taking beloved children's franchises and modernizing them, but even at the expense of lead voice actor James Corden, and the polarizing effect he seems to have on a lot of audiences.  Like I said in my review of the first, Peter is basically Corden as a CG rabbit, so much so that you almost expect Peter to engage in some carpool karaoke.  At least this movie has fun with that thought, and it shows the actor is a good sport when it comes to his own image.

The first movie was nothing great, but it had enough charm and laughs to carry me through, and this sequel is very much the same.  The blending of CG animals and live action is once again expertly done, and the special effects never veer into the "uncanny valley" realm.  I did miss some of the more picturesque countryside settings of the first movie (this one takes place in more urban environments), but this is still an attractive movie.  And once again, Gleeson and Byrne have some very sweet and funny chemistry here, and probably get more to do this time.  I also enjoyed the film's climactic chase, which manages to be a typical Hollywood ending, while also a knowing satire of one without being irritating.  This is the rare sequel that knows the first one had its share of critics, and acknowledges that, but in a way that is not obnoxious.

It takes a certain kind of cleverness to poke fun at yourself, and not make it seem desperate, so I have to applaud Peter Rabbit 2 for pulling off such a difficult feat.  Of course, kids won't pick up on that much, but there's plenty here for them to enjoy.  I had fun with this, but I'd probably have even more fun if I was under 10.

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