"Peter Rabbit" and "Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway" (2018 and 2021)

⭐⭐⭐⭐💖

First, a little background on why I decided to watch these movies. My youngest nephew, six years old, just celebrated his birthday. When I saw a large (but not enormous) stuffed Peter Rabbit in the store, I knew I wanted to gift it to him. Turns out, he not only adores the stuffed Peter Rabbit (I'm told sleeps with it every night), but he also recently saw both of the most recent Peter Rabbit movies. His mother and I got into a discussion about the movies, and it was then that I decided I would watch them.

And what perfect timing. That was just a few weeks ago and now bunny season is upon us So, I chose to watch the two Peter Rabbit movies this week. I treated myself to a double feature all on one day. These movies are fairly short (approximately 90 minutes each), not too complex (they are, after all, made for both children and adults), and wildly entertaining, so it was easy to do. 

And since I watched them both on one day, why not review both of them in one blog post? The four out of five stars, plus the heart (indicating a favorite) applies to each of them separately.

These movies are a combination of live action and computer animation, and they are fun for the whole family. While the plots in each movie are different, they both focus on the antics of Peter Rabbit, his sisters, and his cousin. The parents of Peter Rabbit have already passed away "off screen" before the first movie begins. The children are then taken care of by a kind neighbor, Bea. However, the bunnies are also dealing with the mean Mr. McGregor, who dies from what is apparently a heart attack, fairly early in the first movie. Unfortunately for the bunnies, Mr. McGregor's great nephew, who is also referred to as Mr. McGregor, inherits the property. And so begins the real adventures.

The second movie picks up where the first one left off, but there is now a different conflict. It would be a spoiler if I go too much into it, so I'll just leave it at that.

One cannot help but fall in love with the characters, especially Peter Rabbit. He is obviously a young bunny who has a lot of growing up to do, but he has a good heart and he means well. There is a good dose of humor in the movies that children and adults alike will appreciate. I have to admit, I found myself laughing much more often than I thought I would. While they had only minor roles, the deer and the headlights and the rooster crowing in the mornings made me laugh every single time, even though they were recurring jokes. The singing sparrows were delightful, although they did remind me of barn swallows, which can be quite aggressive. The slapstick comedy was too over-the-top at times, but that is my only criticism. The computer animation, especially with the facial expressions, is brilliantly believable. (Can we just for a moment pretend that rabbits really do walk on two legs?) Overall, both movies were equally and immensely enjoyable. 

I'm hopeful that there is room for this franchise to grow. Peter Rabbit is a loveable bunny with much to learn and I'd love to experience more of his journey with his family and friends. I can only hope there will be a Peter Rabbit 3.