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Directed by :
Chris Noonan
Writing credits (WGA) : Richard
Maltby Jr. (written by)
Tagline : The life of Beatrix
Potter is the most enchanting tale of
all.
Cast : Renée Zellweger as Beatrix
Potter , Emily Watsonas Millie Warne ,
Ewan McGregor as Norman Warne
Runtime : 92 min
 Review
: Beatrix Potter may not be as
well-known a name today as Harry Potter,
but what child doesn't show recognition
at the mention of "Peter Rabbit?" Miss
Potter's most lasting contribution to
the pantheon of characters from
children's literature, Peter Rabbit was
not her only creation, but he is her
best known. Chris Noonan's Miss Potter
is a pleasant, well crafted bio-pic of
Peter's creator. As might be expected,
the film takes some liberties with the
life of its main character, but the
essential facts are accurate and, after
having watched the movie, most viewers
will appreciate Beatrix Potter as more
than simply a writer and illustrator.
The bulk of Miss Potter takes place in
the early 1900s, with occasional
flashbacks to the 1870s, when Beatrix
(Lucy Boynton) was developing her
fertile imagination as a girl in
Kensington (London). Unmarried and
headstrong, the 36-year old Beatrix
(Renée Zellweger) publishes her first
book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, is 1902.
Her editor, Norman Warne (Ewan
McGregor), collaborates with her on this
and subsequent works, and the pair fall
in love. During this time, Beatrix
becomes close friends with Norman's
sister, Millie (Emily Watson). When
Norman asks Beatrix to marry him,
trouble arises. Beatrix is ecstatic
about the proposal but her parents are
horrified. There is no way a daughter of
theirs is going to marry - gasp! - a
tradesman.
 Miss
Potter is constructed almost as a Jane
Austen novel (albeit in a more modern
setting). Many of the familiar themes
and ideals are present. The heroine is a
strong-willed woman who rebels against
the conventions of the day. She falls in
love in an unlikely manner. Her parents
are more interested in the status that
may be gained from a marriage than in
their daughter's happiness, although the
father is more respectful of his
daughter's wishes than the mother. Fans
of Austen's novels will find familiar
threads running throughout Noonan and
screenwriter Richard Maltby's
interpretation of Miss Potter's life.
Renée Zellweger, one of two American
actresses who can affect a flawless
British accent (the other is Gwyneth
Paltrow), plays Beatrix as a headstrong,
odd woman who lives more in a world of
fantasy than reality. Her "friends" are
the animals she draws and writes about.
Noonan expresses Beatrix's attachment to
her creations by occasionally animating
them. We see them through her eyes - not
merely static creatures, but living
things that change expressions and move
around on the paper. Beatrix has led a
sheltered life - until meeting Millie,
she has no friends and her parents are
interested in maintaining the status quo
with Beatrix living to become an old
maid in their house.
 The
love story is beautifully constructed.
There's some sentimentality here, but
Noonan is careful not to take it too far
and to avoid overplaying the audience's
emotional chords. This isn't a Hollywood
romance between two young, pretty
people. As Beatrix, Zellweger has used
makeup to appear plain. Ewan McGregor
retains an element of his boyish charm,
but he's also hesitant and clumsy around
Beatrix - not exactly a knight in
shining armor. Yet the flaws of the
characters make their interaction
endearing. In a supporting role, Emily
Watson is a firecracker and has some of
the best lines.
Noonan, whose previous film, Babe,
reached screens 11 years ago, has
produced Miss Potter with an eye toward
the family audience, although it's
unclear whether children will be
interested in anything beyond the few
brief scenes featuring low-key
animation. Some will liken this to
Finding Neverland, although the
similarities don't stretch beyond the
essential premise of seeking a level of
understanding about the author of
children's books. After all, it would be
difficult to find two more dissimilar
people than J.M. Barrie and Beatrix
Potter.
The strength of Miss Potter is in many
ways the simplicity of its intentions.
This is an engaging story, well told.
There are no deeply hidden messages or
thinly disguised agendas. The
cinematography is stunning (especially
the landscapes of the Lake Country), the
acting is solid, and Noonan's direction
adds an element of whimsy to the tale.
With its lack of pretensions, Miss
Potter is that rare breed of cinematic
animal: a movie whose entire goal is to
entertain and perhaps apply a gentle
touch to the heart.
MEDIA PARTNER
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