Story

The story begins with Bea (Rose Byrne) and Mr McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson) getting married. Peter (voice of James Cordon) still feels some resentment about this, but he tries his best to stay in line and help others stick to the rules. No matter what happens, though, Peter seems to be blamed when things go wrong.

When a fancy publisher notices Bea’s books, Peter is cast as the books’ trouble-maker. Much to Peter’s dismay, everyone seems to think that this is a fine fit. Feeling misunderstood and uncared for, Peter heads off on his own to the city.

Peter decides that if everyone thinks he’s bad, he might as well act like it. He meets Barnabas (voice of Lennie James), a street rabbit masquerading as an old friend of his father’s. Peter helps Barnabas and his friends raid a family’s kitchen. The street gang is impressed by Peter’s abilities and enlists his help to pull off a really big heist at a farmers market.

For the heist to work, Peter must get his family to help. But when things go wrong and Peter’s family is captured, Peter’s new friends reveal their true colours. Peter must turn to an unlikely source to help set things right.

Themes

Being mislabelled and misunderstood; exploitation; animal distress; running away

Violence

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway has some violence. For example:

• Peter fantasises about attacking Mr McGregor during the wedding vows. In his fantasy, he repeatedly punches, kicks and wrestles Mr McGregor until he becomes entangled in a bunch of balloons and is carried off into the sky.
• Animals punch each other in the face and throw each other into the air.
• Peter smashes a woman in the face with a refrigerator door and then blasts her with champagne.
• Two humans chase and attack Peter and Barnabas, trying to hit them with brooms.
• Mr McGregor punches Nigel in the face.
• The animals attack farmers at the market, taking them out one by one. They trip people in oil slicks, throw spices in people’s faces, knock people out with scales, slam into people’s legs, smash people with loaves of bread, and trap people under wheels of cheese.
• A hedgehog uses her prickles like flying daggers.
• A moose has his head measured to be mounted on a wall.

Sexual references

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway has no sexual references.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway shows some use of substances. For example, Cottontail discovers jellybeans and gets sugar highs when she eats them. The candy seems to act like a drug on her.

Nudity and sexual activity

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway has some sexual activity. For example:

• Bea and Mr McGregor kiss at their wedding.
• A young boy and girl at the farmers market seem to like each other.

Product placement

Other than the stories of Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway has no product placement.

Coarse language

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway has no coarse language.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is an animated adventure based on the characters in Beatrix Potter’s beloved children’s stories. Although the plot is predictable, the animation is excellent and the target audience of young children is likely to enjoy the movie.

Because Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway has some mild themes and violence, we recommend parental guidance for children under five years.

These are the main messages from Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway:

• Families come in all shapes and sizes.
• You should always believe in yourself and in the power of your dreams.

Values in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway that you could reinforce with your children include responsibility for your actions and mistakes, teamwork, courage, forgiveness and the importance of family.

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway could also give you the chance to talk with your children about the real-life consequences of things like:

• running away
• criticising people without truly understanding their motivations
• trading your integrity for material gain.