Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Discovered in April 2018, the first part of the adventures of Peter Rabbit had totally convinced us by its realization, a scenario that knew how to propose a modern tale advocating the benefits of respect for nature, a perfect casting (Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson) and successful special effects giving the main character a very endearing side. Peter Rabbit is a fictional character created by Beatrix Potter and appeared in several books as a tale. The first five books were published between 1902 and 1912 and were a huge success. The actress Emma Thompson wrote three other books published between 2012 and 2014 which considerably revived the character to the point of bringing the production of a first film critically acclaimed and successful worldwide. 

While the first film was written by Will Gluck and Patrick Burleigh, Will Gluck is also the director of the script, as was the case for the first film (he is assisted here by Rob Lieber). We also find in the production Will Gluck and Zareh Nalbandian, the composer Dominic Lewis, the same director of photography and in the original voices Elizabeth Debicki, James Corden and Margot Robbie and the two main actors Domhnall Gleeson and Rose Byrne. The visual richness of the first part as well as the communicative good humor present in the first part is found here entirely to our great pleasure. In the same way, this sequel is even more spectacular than the first part and moves for a large part of the story the setting from Bea McGregor's property to a big city.

In Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, Bea, Thomas and the rabbits have created a makeshift family, but despite his best efforts to endear himself to Thomas McGegor, Peter can't seem to shake his reputation as a troublemaker. Venturing out of the garden, Peter finds himself in a world where his undeniable skill and imagination seem to be appreciated by a bunch of animals (a mouse, an old rabbit and two cats). Just as Bea is about to sign a big contract with a well-known publisher, Peter Rabbit disappears and is sought by his family. A great new adventure will lead Peter Rabbit to see life differently and to appreciate his family and his countryside even more.

Of course, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway does not allow us to be as surprised and won over by the first part, a large part of the surprise effect not being present anymore, but it does not demerit for all that. Far from wanting to surf on the success of the first part, the scriptwriters tried to remain audacious and especially to show us that a general public entertainment should not be formatted and without real audacity. This film is a real success because of the picture it paints of the Hollywood environment that is constantly looking for the big show and following satisfaction surveys to offer over-inflated blockbusters in which some directors and creators lose a real part of their approach and important foundations. When the editor asks Bea McGregor to dress up his characters in a fashionable way or even send them into space, this is tantamount to distorting his work.  In this respect, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is a multi-layered sequel that will appeal to both adults and children who find the characters adorable. We can also appreciate the use of Dominic Lewis' music, which is always perfect for the action, such as the songs of Green Day (Boulevard of Broken Dreams), The Ting Thing (That's not my name), Supergrass (Alright), some of which are sung in playback by a squirrel.

While most of the family fantasy comedies have trouble pleasing us completely and too often miss their main objectives, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway reaches the level of Paddington 2 because it benefits from a real will to break out of a predefined mold and to intelligently entertain the audience. Sometimes dramatic, whimsical or cartoonish, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway does not hesitate to scratch Hollywood cinema and even manages to have action scenes as spectacular as a Mission Impossible (the plane scene), or even a James Bond and also to show us the importance of being a family and knowing how to listen to each other. We are therefore happy and hope that a third part will be released, if only to see how the child of Bea and Thomas will evaluate with these animals as endearing as deeply human.

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Directed by Will Gluck
Produced by Will Gluck, Zareh Nalbandian, Catherine Bishop, Jodi Hildebrand
Written by Will Gluck, Patrick Burleigh
Based on Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Starring Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, David Oyelowo, Elizabeth Debicki, Margot Robbie, James Corden
Music by Dominic Lewis
Cinematography : Peter Menzies Jr.
Edited by Matt Villa
Production companies : Columbia Pictures, Animal Logic, MRC, 2.0 Entertainment, Olive Bridge Entertainment
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date : March 25, 2021 (Australia), May 17, 2021 (United Kingdom), June 11, 2021 (United States), June 30, 2021 (France)
Running time : 93 minutes

Seen on June 20, 2021 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 8 B19

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