Myself, like a lot of other critics don’t write about kid’s films, because it’s “punching down” on material that younger viewers will like regardless of what us jokers have to say.
But parents want to know a good film to bring the kiddos back to the theater with, and “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” is a great candidate. This sequel on the popular rabbit “tale” (sorry), moves quickly and gives us no time to be bored as we readjust to a movie in an actual theater.
Our title character is back, and getting a mainstream book deal. Well, at least, Bea, played by the wonderful Rose Byrne is. Tapped as the “bad seed”, Peter struggles to find his place in this very confusing world.
Heck, if you eliminate the computer generated rabbits, this could have been a bio pic.
But Peter Rabbit 2 works because it’s all meat. We’re following these farm and city animals the entire way, and we have no “dead time” to get bored. There are times when this feels like a Guy Ritchie heist film and for us grown ups, that’s not so bad.
Bryne crushes her role, because she always does. Domhall Gleeson does as well, again in a slapstick dominant part. And Director Will Gluck gives us a pretty good time here.
If there are negatives, it would be some of the computer effects used on the human “follies” that look terrible, but might just play perfectly for the young audience it’s intended for.
Look, if you’re a parent that wants to test the waters on a post-pandemic kids theater outing, this movie is a strong pick.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Grade: B
Rated: PG
Running Time: 1 Hour 33 Minutes