PETER RABBIT (2018)
An infectious, redemptive comedy for older children and adults.
Should You Watch It?
Yes, especially if you are looking for a lively family comedy with a positive emotional finish. This modern, live-action update of Beatrix Potter’s beloved character has an infectious wry sense of humor, slapstick that does not become overbearing, and a strong story structure that reaches a satisfying climax.
The film also gives its misbehaving hero somewhere worthwhile to go. Love, repentance, forgiveness, and learning to do the right thing provide uplifting messages, while the redemptive ending leaves families with positive feelings.
Younger children may need more discernment because of the slapstick comedy and very brief language. For older children and adults, this is worth the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESPeter Rabbit and his three sisters live near Farmer McGregor’s garden, where Peter is determined to steal food despite warnings from his cousin Benjamin Bunny.
After McGregor dies, his city nephew Thomas inherits the farm and arrives with plans of his own. Thomas soon clashes with Peter, while also falling for Bea, the kind painter and illustrator next door who cares for Peter and his sisters. Peter decides Thomas has to go.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an excellent family comedy with strong entertainment value. Its wry humor is laugh-out-loud infectious, and the slapstick works without becoming overbearing.
The story hits the plot points it should and builds to a nice climax. Heartwarming emotional moments deepen the comedy, especially as Peter learns to stop causing trouble and do the right thing. The messages about love, repentance, and forgiveness give the movie a redemptive heart.
The Worldview
PETER RABBIT presents a strong Christian, redemptive, moral worldview. It promotes the benefits and blessings of love and extols learning to do the right thing, repentance, and forgiveness. The movie also includes some pro-capitalist elements and chaste romantic elements.
The film contains a comical reference to someone having “evolved” and a couple of jokes mocking political correctness. These elements sit alongside the movie’s stronger emphasis on moral change, forgiveness, and redemptive love.
The film’s central longing is for people to choose love and become better than their previous actions. Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Christian, redemptive, moral worldview promoting the infinite benefits and blessings of love in one scene and extolling learning to do the right thing, repentance and forgiveness, with some pro-capitalist elements, Romantic elements and a comical reference to someone having “evolved,” but the movie also has a couple jokes mocking political correctness
Foul Language
One “d” obscenity and brief talk about cleaning toilets in two scenes so well that you can drink from them, and Peter tells antagonist he rubbed his “butt” on his hairbrush
Violence
Lots of slapstick violence includes men go after rabbits with a rake and a shovel, animals wreck a house, rabbit fights two men by making them fall or punching them with his back feet, a mole gets shocked by an electric fence, rabbits rewire electric fence to give humans shocks that slams the people into walls, a fence and one another, characters accidently step on rakes and hit themselves with the wooden handle, man throws small sticks of dynamite at rabbits invading his garden and yard, small sticks of dynamite explode, and tree falls on part of a house, rabbits shoot blackberries into mans mouth knowing he's deathly allergic
Sex
No sex, but young romantic couple kisses in a couple scenes
Nudity
Upper male nudity in one scene when young man is working at the farm he inherited
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking and no drug content;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Rabbits steal farmer’s food and move into his house with other animals when farmer dies, but they are kicked out by the new owner.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Peter begins by causing trouble but eventually learns to do the right thing. What helps someone move from wrongdoing toward repentance?
2 Corinthians 7:10 · 1 John 1:9The movie extols love, forgiveness, and the blessings that come from them. When has forgiveness changed a relationship in your family or community?
Colossians 3:13 · 1 Corinthians 13:4–7Peter’s choices affect his sisters, Benjamin, Thomas, and Bea. How can we consider the effects of our actions before we act?
Philippians 2:3–4 · Galatians 6:7–8The Final Word
PETER RABBIT pairs infectious humor and effective slapstick with a redemptive message about love, repentance, and forgiveness. Younger children may need discernment, but older children and adults can enjoy this lively, uplifting comedy. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
