The newest animated adventure comedy film from Sony Pictures, Peter Rabbit, was quite a laugh and very enjoyable. 

“It just happens to be clever and funny, and moves as fast as a tyke on a sugar bender,” said Chris Nashawaty from Entertainment Weekly  “If you squint hard enough, you’ll also find some of the author’s signature generosity and warmth, too.” 

The film is about the story of a rabbit, Peter, voiced by James Corden, and his three sisters, Flopsy (Margot Robbie), Mopsy (Elizabeth Debicki) and Cotton-Tail (Daisy Ridley), and they like to spend their days in Mr. McGregor’s (Sam Niell) vegetable garden, and steal all of his vegetables. When Mr. McGregor suddenly dies, one of McGregor’s relatives, Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson) moves in, he’s less than thrilled to discover a family of rabbits in his new home, just as unpleased as Mr. McGregor. A battle of wills soon breaks out as the new owner hatches scheme after scheme to get rid of Peter.

Although the movie was entertaining, an odd scene in the movie caused some controversy among viewers: When Peter and his friends threw fruit at Thomas’ face and started throwing blackberries at Thomas aiming at his mouth even though they know Thomas is allergic to blackberries; this forces Thomas to use an EpiPen. I, personally, thought that it wasn’t a major problem. I can see how it’s wrong, and may be inappropriate, but I think they shouldn’t worry about setting impressions on little kids because they don’t think much of it, they just laugh because they think it’s funny; it doesn’t cross their minds that the scene itself shows danger. I know this because of the little kids in the audience around me that were bursting into laughs.

I really think it’s a pure and funny movie. For example, my favorite part of the movie had to be when Peter had quoted his dad and said “use his power against him” and they used electricity against Thomas and every time he approached a metal piece he’d get electrocuted. Yes, he’d get hurt, but it was just the exaggeration that makes it funny. Like those “try not to laugh” videos on YouTub, which they’re mostly just clips of people getting hurt. The comedy portion of the movie played a big part of its overall success; it blinds children from the so called “danger.” 

“One of the 7-year-olds, on learning that I had a fear of heights, asked me if I’d ever seen ‘Vertigo.’ They enjoyed the movie pretty quietly, and over pizza afterward, enthusiastically compared notes on their favorite scenes,” said Glenn Kenny from The New York Times. 

Peter Rabbit also had heartfelt moments for example when Peter was devoted throughout the movie to get Thomas out, he failed to realize that by pressing the button to the explosives, he would blow up the giant tree next to Bea’s (Rose Byrne) house which then slowly tilted and destroyed part of Bea’s house where she had kept all of her artwork. Then, he felt bad and apologized to his sisters and cousin. At the end, where Peter shows Bea that he’s the one who pressed the button, they put their heads together and Peter apologized. I felt like that was a very heart warming scene especially because previously Bea had explained to Thomas that when the rabbits put their heads together it’s their way of apologizing.

They worked together so Bea would not leave the countryside of town, and apologized to Bea, building a bond and friendship. This movie shows how to work together in the end to create something that overcomes the conflicts in the past. I think this made up for the slight error the creators made because with this you can say that kids learned from the overall movie that cruelty and mean actions won’t solve any problems in the end and that selfishness doesn’t get you anywhere beneficial. In the end, I think that this movie taught rather than harmed children’s minds because the ending proved that violence is never the answer, and that if you’ve ever harmed anyone in any way, you should apologize. While still covering that meaning, they manage to bring out a great film overall with lots of humor that made kids laugh.

“Under the given circumstances, I found that I agree that the scene spotlights an unpleasant insensitivity, even an ugly obliviousness, on the part of the filmmakers. Yet, even more, it throws into sharp relief the overall tone and import of the film, and, in the process, reveals other peculiarities that make,” said Richard Brody from The New Yorker.

Outside of all the controversy Peter Rabbit was enjoyable, exciting, and very entertaining.

“Yes, right away the movie dispenses with the sweetness and light and lyricism of the books by Beatrix Potter,” Kenny said.