Peter Rabbit
Peter Rabbit is a weird one to pin down, mostly because it feels like it should be far more annoying than it actually is… and then just isn’t.
Let’s address the obvious: James Corden. This might be the only movie where he doesn’t completely wear out his welcome. He still plays Peter like an overconfident menace, but it’s toned down just enough that it works instead of making you want to mute the film. It helps that the character is meant to be a bit insufferable, so for once, the casting lines up instead of clashing.
The humour is surprisingly decent. Not every joke lands, but there are enough that do to keep things moving. It leans into chaotic, slightly mean-spirited comedy. Less “cute bedtime story,” more “these animals are actively ruining a man’s life.” That shift gives it a bit of personality, even if it occasionally goes too far with it.
Where the movie really works is the human side. Rose Byrne and Domhnall Gleeson carry a lot of the film, and their chemistry is genuinely strong. Their back-and-forth feels natural, which is impressive considering they’re often reacting to CGI animals causing chaos around them. Gleeson, in particular, commits fully to being the world’s most stressed-out man, and it pays off.
Visually, it’s solid. The animation blends well enough with the live-action setting, and the countryside looks good without feeling overly polished. It doesn’t reinvent anything, but it doesn’t distract either.
It’s not perfect. The tone can swing a bit wildly, and some of the jokes push past “funny” into “alright, relax.” But it’s consistently watchable, and more importantly, it actually gets a few real laughs.
In the end, it’s a film that works more often than it should, mainly because the cast understands exactly what kind of movie they’re in and commits to it.