Pierre Lapin is celebrating his 116th birthday this year. The rabbit is however as wriggling and facetious as in its beginnings. Released on April 4, 2018 in France, the film Pierre Lapin offers a second youth to the hero of Beatrix Potter. The adaptation of the tale by Will Gluck leaves us doubtful.
Those who grew up reading the stories of Beatrix Potter have fond memories of Peter Rabbit. This rebellious young rabbit led great adventures in a universe softened by the storyteller's watercolor illustrations. Not sure, however, that everyone appreciates the film adaptation made this year. Will Gluck's film mixes live action and computer graphics. Five rabbits – Pierre, his three sisters and their cousin Jeannot – wage war on their neighbour. The human Thomas McGregor has indeed vowed to get rid of these rabbits that ruin his vegetable garden. Their fights are behind the backs of Bea, a painter who makes the hearts of Peter and Thomas beat.
An ambiguous morality
If the scenario is all in all unsurprising, some recurring elements in the plot spoil the fun. The film Pierre Lapin is undoubtedly addressed to children, even if parents will be able to find some jokes to their liking. Yet the young audience is bombarded with messages of uncertain moral sense. Pierre and his family plot very violent actions against Thomas. The rabbits find a way to make him eat blackberries (to which he is allergic) and leave him for dead after electrocuting him. Thomas is also not an example since his only goal is to exterminate these small animals. The end offers, as expected, reconciliation between the two sides, but violence remains implicitly tolerated when directed towards a common enemy. Nevertheless, the two "human" actors of the film deliver a good acting performance. Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Rose Byrne (Insidious, X-Men Apocalypse) are very convincing, especially when talking to rabbits they can't see. The character of Béa is also a sympathetic nod to the creator of Pierre Lapin.
A children's film
Many elements of the film are reminiscent of the tales of Beatrix Potter. His watercolors can be found in some background illustrations. The flashback explaining the story of the Rabbit family is made with the same graphics as the cartoons of 1992 and 1993. These little notes of nostalgia, however, are not enough to captivate an audience over 10 years old. The DVD and Blu-Ray released by Sony on August 8 should delight children. In addition to the feature film, the DVD offers a little bonus story with Flopsaut, Cottontail and Mopsy, Pierre Lapin's triplet sisters. A making-of of the film offers an inside view of the making of the film and many interviews with director Will Gluck and various actors James Corden (Pierre Lapin), Domhnall Gleeson (Thomas), Rose Byrne (Béa)… Children will also enjoy dancing to the official choreography of the film's song: Promise You performed by James Corden.
Pierre Lapin will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 8, 2018. The film is distributed by Sony.
