Peter Rabbit 2: Quaint Potter creations turn to a life of crime

Self-reflexive sequel plays up the laughs to good effect as the humans steal the show

‘I’m terrible at foreign languages; great at cartoon violence,’ boasts Peter

‘I’m terrible at foreign languages; great at cartoon violence,’ boasts Peter

“I’d be spinning in my grave if my books were turned into some sarky hip-fest for commercial gain – probably by an American,” snorts Bea, as in Beatrix Potter, as played by Rose Byrne in the second instalment of this sarky hip-fest rendering of Potter’s Peter Rabbit. 

Whether it’s the middle film from the Scream trilogy or Henry IV Part II, a good sequel requires a degree of self-reflexivity, and Peter Rabbit 2 (or Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, as it is styled in some territories) winks and nods endlessly at the audience. That’s Not My Name, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, and other extremely literal-minded music cues – unearthed from 1990s and noughties vaults to appeal to parents – are jeered by the title character or crooned by an autotuned squirrel.

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