He’s one of the most beloved characters in children’s literature and now Peter Rabbit is set to become one of the most popular kids’ films of all time, writes Des Sampson.
Paddington Bear and Winnie the Pooh have already enchanted kids – and kidults – with their heartwarming, book-to-screen adaptations. Now it's the turn of Beatrix Potter's most cherished character, Peter Rabbit and his family of furry friends, to finally be given the full Hollywood, CGI-treatment. For actor, comedian and talk show host James Corden, who stars as Peter, the wait was worth it.
"I'd grown up with Peter Rabbit, so the books are very much a part of my life," he reveals, smiling fondly. "My overwhelming memory, when my parents read it to me, was that he was the first major character, in a kid's book, that was naughty. I couldn't believe they were reading me a story about someone who doesn't do what he was told! That was an amazing revelation and always intrigued me, so I jumped at the chance to do the voice for him."
There's also another reason why Corden was keen to play Peter Rabbit: he wanted to impress his kids, especially his son, Max.
Flopsy, Mopsy, Peter, Benjamin and Cottontail in Peter Rabbit.
"I've done a few animated things in the past, like The Gruffalo, so my kids are aware of what I do. But I thought that by voicing Peter Rabbit it would make me seem much cooler to them," he explains. "But my son, in particular, is quite blase about the whole thing, so instead of me going; 'Hey buddy, c'mon, I'm just Dad,' what actually happens is I find myself saying; 'the voice of Peter Rabbit, pretty cool, huh?' and he's like, 'whatever…'" For Domhnall Gleeson, who portrays Thomas McGregor – the young nephew of the ill-tempered, old Mr McGregor - there were much more altruistic reasons for starring in Peter Rabbit.
"Going to work each morning, with the aim of making kids happy and making them laugh, was such a nice feeling," he says, grinning with boyish enthusiasm. "I remember going to see Paddington 2 with my brother and a friend, who brought his son. Hearing his 5-year-old roar with delight - full-on belly laughs – made me feel so happy, and I wanted to be able to do that too. Apparently, that's what's been happening when kids watch this, which is great. That's what we'd hoped for."
There are plenty of laughs afoot in Peter Rabbit, as the mischief-making hero wreaks mayhem in McGregor's bountiful garden, while its mix of visual gags, farce, sarcasm, and double-entendre make it a film which appeals to kids and adults equally, if for different reasons.
"The comedy does work on different levels," acknowledges Gleeson. "But what I like about it is that you don't just have the kids laughing at one point and their parents at another. They're both laughing at the same time, even if it's at different things."
Despite its bonhomie and frivolity, there's a darker, less cuddly undercurrent to Peter Rabbit - if you strip away the fur and the frolicking good fun, as Corden surmises. "At its core, this isn't just a tale about rabbits," he asserts. "Instead, what the film is actually about is the acceptance of people – or, in this case, animals – that are different from you. It's recognising that if you accept people's differences and don't build walls – if you're more open and receptive to things you don't understand – then the world could be a far superior place."
Bea (Rose Byrne) with a Peter Rabbit stand-in on the set of Peter Rabbit.
If that seems a little too philosophical for a kids' film then you can always revel in some electrifying stunts and slapstick skits instead, including Sam Neill's cantankerous spin on old Mr McGregor.
"Sam was great and really owned the part. But he's so well disguised, he's almost unrecognisable. Even the head of the studio didn't realise it was him, until he saw the credits for the film because we made Sam look exactly like Mr McGregor," enthuses director Will Gluck.
"Unfortunately, for Sam, when we shot his sequence it was 42 degrees in Sydney and he was in this big, padded suit and got really hot. In fact, it was so hot that we had to have an air conditioning unit built into his suit, just so he could do the scene. So, every time we yelled 'cut', the crew would shove the tube back in his suit and cool him down! But he carried on without complaining, he was a star."
It's that balance between the familiar and the fantasy – of remaining faithful to Potter's magic while adding a fresh twist with CGI - which makes Peter Rabbit more than just a yarn for kids. Instead, it's a film that adults, parents, grandparents, tots and teens can all enjoy equally – if you're happy to suspend belief and revive your inner child.
As Corden says: "Parents are saying to other parents; 'Oh, you should go and see this film because it's really funny, it's joyful, it's uplifting and it made our children feel great.' Ultimately, that's what it's all about."
LOWDOWN: Who: James Corden What: Peter Rabbit When: In cinemas next Thursday
