Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 70
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
Peter Rabbit 2 impresses with enhancements and engaging audio-visuals, a delight for families and a surprise for skeptics.
Disc Release Date
2K Upscale
HDR10
Dolby Atmos
DTS-HD MA
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 75
Peter Rabbit 2's UHD release slightly outshines the Blu-ray with modest enhancements in color depth and texture, alongside vibrant HDR effects, making it the preferred choice despite being an upscale from 2K.
Audio: 79
Peter Rabbit 2's 4K Blu-ray Dolby Atmos track enhances the cartoon's action with immersive audio, balanced adventure sequences, and clear dialogue, despite modest enhancements over the standard 5.1 mix.
Extra: 48
Peter Rabbit 2's 4K release lacks extras but includes a Blu-ray with behind-the-scenes featurettes, crafting tutorials, and a mini-movie, aimed at family fun and creativity.
Movie: 66
Peter Rabbit 2 balances humor and heart, mocking its genre while celebrating growth and family, despite predictable plots and James Corden's surprisingly tolerable role.
Video: 75
Peter Rabbit 2's transition to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, showcases a commendable upscaling effort that capitalizes on a larger budget and an improved aesthetic over its predecessor. Displayed at a 3840x2160/24p BT.2020 resolution in the film's original aspect ratio of widescreen 2.39:1, the release utilizes 10-bit video depth, a Wide Colour Gamut (WCG), and High Dynamic Range (HDR), encoded with the HEVC (H.265) codec for HDR10. This enhances the picture quality significantly, especially in its vibrant color palette and meticulous detail in both character textures, such as the CG-animated rabbits' fur, and environmental aspects, from luscious landscapes to the nuanced urban settings doubled by Australia. Such richness in detail and color fidelity, combined with a stable presentation not marred by noticeable softness, allows for an immersive viewing experience that aptly serves the film’s upgraded visual narrative.
Examined on high-end equipment, the 4K presentation signals modest yet appreciable improvements over the standard Blu-ray version, particularly in color depth and textural detail. Noteworthy scenes, like Peter's encounter with Barnabas, benefit from a richer color scheme that provides the image with more depth and realism. The HDR enhancement contributes significantly to this effect, offering a dynamic range that bolsters whites and deepens blacks, without overstepping to compromise naturalism. These improvements are consistently applied across various elements - facial textures gain slight refinement, clothing and environmental details benefit from enhanced clarity, and the CG animal fur showcases added intricacy.
Whilst it may originate from a 2K digital intermediate upscale rather than native 4K, Peter Rabbit 2’s UHD rendition does justice to its visual elements. The improved detail is subtly yet noticeably better in close-ups, although wider shots may not always manifest this enhancement clearly due to inherent filming techniques. Despite these limitations and a relatively constrained use of extreme dark or bright scenes, the UHD version distinguishes itself by leveraging HDR to maintain peak brightness and detail without losing consistency. The end result is a visually appealing presentation that marries the film's inherent visual charm with technical enhancements to offer viewers the definitive version of this animated adventure.
Audio: 79
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway" boasts an immersive Dolby Atmos audio track that accentuates the film's animated antics and adventure with an engaging and dynamic soundscape. This audio experience utilizes a blend of clear and coherent dialogue, robust sound effects, and a lively score to create an atmospheric depth that aligns seamlessly with the visual journey. The mix thrives on its deployment of object-based audio, bringing scenes to life with an array of effects that range from the subtleties of garden patches to the intense action of train rides and car chases, animated with comic book style that enhances the viewing experience with vivid whizzes and thuds. The overhead channels in particular demonstrate thoughtful use of spatial audio during key moments, creating an enveloping atmosphere that tracks the on-screen action meticulously, such as Mopsy's antics after a candy spree.
While the Dolby Atmos track introduces an added layer of spatial definition compared to its Blu-ray 5.1 counterpart, it does so with a measure of restraint, focusing on enriching the overall experience without overwhelming the senses. The overhead and surround-back channels contribute to an expanded soundscape yet maintain a complimentary role, carefully balancing between discrete sound effects and an ambient backdrop. This approach ensures a consistent soundstage that enhances the film's lively score and action sequences without dominating the mix. Additionally, dialog remains front and center—crisp, clear, and well-prioritized—ensuring that it anchors the audio presentation effectively amid the bustling surround activity.
Despite not venturing into aggressively expansive territories, the Atmos mix adeptly supports the narrative with subtle yet effective use of bass to underscore the soundtrack, without pushing the boundaries of dynamic range excessively. The balance achieved here is commendable, as it invites the audience into Peter Rabbit’s world with precision and subtlety, tracking the movement within chase scenes and capturing the essence of the adventure without detracting from the storytelling. In essence, this audio presentation complements Peter Rabbit 2's visual spectacle by crafting a layered and immersive auditory experience that is both fun and technically proficient, ensuring that viewers are continuously engaged through every hop, skip, and thump of this charming tale.
Extras: 48
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway might not feature any extras on the 4K disc itself, but the accompanying Blu-ray more than compensates with a selection aimed at enriching the viewing experience. Supplemental content is tailored for both families and fans of the film, offering an engaging mix of behind-the-scenes insights and interactive crafts. Highlights include an in-depth making-of featurette that explores the production’s expanded scope and the efforts to craft a sequel that's bigger and more special, alongside fun crafting tutorials directly inspired by the movie. These extras lean heavily into the film’s themes of creativity and imagination, inviting viewers to not just watch but participate in the whimsical world of Peter Rabbit 2. A digital code ensures these features can be enjoyed across various devices, further enhancing this release’s value.
Extras included in this disc:
- Bunnies, Baddies, and the Big City: The Making of Peter Rabbit 2: A comprehensive look at the making of the film.
- Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle's Wee Little Kitchen: A cooking segment inspired by the film.
- Bea's Crafting Corner: DIY Bunny Bookmarks: A craft tutorial for creating bunny bookmarks.
- Bea's Crafting Corner: Create Your Own Woodland Terrarium: Instructions for building a mini terrarium.
- Make Your Own McGregor Garden: A gardening guide with additional trivia and interviews.
- Flopsy Turvy: A Peter Rabbit Mini Movie: A short film focusing on Cottontail, Mopsy, and Flopsy.
- Previews: Trailers for additional Sony titles.
Movie: 66
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway" returns viewers to the charming, if a tad more mischievous, world of Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters, now enhanced by the technological wonders of 4K UHD Blu Ray presentation. Within this sequel, director Will Gluck finely balances the act of expanding the narrative’s horizons while keeping true to the heartwarming essence of its predecessor. Both children and adults are catered to with a blend of self-aware humor and more sophisticated jokes that seem to acknowledge the grown-ups in the room without alienating its core young audience. The expanded cast, featuring voices from James Corden, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki, and live-action talents like Rose Byrne and Domhnall Gleeson, enriches the film’s world. New arrivals such as Lennie James and David Oyelowo add further depth, with Oyelowo’s publisher character introducing a storyline that veers into a commentary on artistic integrity versus commercial success.
At its core, "Peter Rabbit 2" explores themes of identity, acceptance, and family dynamics through Peter’s eyes as he grapples with his mischievous reputation and seeks a place where his nature is celebrated rather than frowned upon. This journey introduces him to new adventures and questionable schemes outside the garden, especially his involvement with Barnabas and their farmer's market heist. These escapades are juxtaposed with Bea’s struggle with her artistic direction being compromised by commercial influences. The duality of plotlines serves to engage different facets of its audience; children are taken on a fun-filled rogue adventure with Peter, while adults might find Bea’s narrative more relatable.
Technically, the movie excels in integrating CGI with live-action, creating a seamless world where digital and real elements coexist flawlessly. High quality animation brings each character to life with remarkable detail, supported by strong vocal performances that imbue them with personality and charm. The film cleverly navigates its genre’s cliches by embracing them in a self-referential manner, avoiding the pitfalls of becoming overly saccharine or cynically commercial. Instead, it offers a fresh take on the coming-of-age genre through its furry protagonist, making "Peter Rabbit 2" a commendable sequel that provides enjoyable viewing for families seeking a blend of humor, adventure, and heartfelt moments.
Total: 70
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway" secures its position as a commendable sequel, offering both a visually and audibly rewarding experience for its audience. Marketed as a package that is significantly better than one might expect, particularly for those viewers who find themselves watching family-oriented content with regularity. From its release by Sony, the 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray™ edition, available from 2nd August 2021, delivers an impeccable native 4K image alongside a splendid Dolby Atmos track. While the movie itself might not break new ground in comedic genius, especially for adults, it serves up perfectly serviceable family entertainment that escalates beyond its predecessor in both quality and engagement.
The technical presentation of the Blu-ray adds substantial value, featuring an excellent 2160p/HDR video that, while not monumentally superior to the regular Blu-ray, still marks a noticeable improvement. The audio experience is particularly praiseworthy, with the inclusion of a rewarding lossless surround sound and a commendable Dolby Atmos immersive sound mix, enhancing the overall viewing pleasure. The supplementary package provided may lean more towards younger viewers but remains a fair addition to the overall offering.
In conclusion, "Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway" emerges as a robust family entertainment choice that pleasantly surprises with its level of self-awareness and quality of presentation. Its technical accomplishments on 4K UHD Blu-ray offer a strong incentive for fans and newcomers to add this title to their collection. While it may not set a new benchmark in family cinema compared to giants like Paddington, it nonetheless secures a respectable spot in the genre, making it a recommended pick for those seeking light, enjoyable viewing with the added perk of superior audiovisual quality.
avforums review by Casimir HarlowRead review here
Video: 80
a strong upscaled image that enjoys the bigger budget, scale and better style than the first outing With a not insignificant $45 million price tag, Peter Rabbit 2 is a fairly on-point offering, with strong...
Audio: 80
revels in the cartoon action and mayhem Dialogue is rendered clearly and coherently throughout, but is hardly the important feature, with a storm of effects bringing everything from garden patches to bustling...
Extras: 30
a few meagre supplements There's a Crafting Bunny Bookmarks feature, a Create Your Own Woodland Terranium feature, and a couple of holdover features created from the first film, including a Making Your...
Movie: 60
And Corden is actually pretty tolerable, with the script more than happy to poke fun not just at his character but at his voice, whilst trading in several genuinely good jokes (the entire Farmers' Market...
Total: 70
this surprisingly self-aware sequel is a marked improvement over its just-above-average predecessor Sony's UK 4K release of Peter Rabbit 2 boasts an excellent native 4K image and a superb Atmos track,...
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 80
The blue accents and crate full of oranges that serve as a primary background for the scene offer dense, deeper, more impressively robust coloring compared to the Blu-ray, though not such a dramatic increase...
Audio: 90
Otherwise, the track is proficient and offers clearly defined musical elements, playing with excellent clarity and appropriate front-side width with modest surround engagement and just enough subwoofer...
Extras: 80
Bunnies, Baddies, and the Big City: The Making of Peter Rabbit 2 (1080p, 9:18): Exploring the cast and characters, making a "bigger and more special" sequel, sets and locations, crafting key scenes, digital...
Movie: 60
The secondary plot is a bit more interesting (and more geared towards the adults in the audience), and it involves the widescale publication of Bea's books, transitioning from a small individual printing...
Total: 40
The film is not particularly big on legitimate laughs -- especially for the adults in the crowd -- but children will eat up the familiar, yet friendly, antics and animation....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
It’s intense, staying attractive to keep kids engaged, and consistency means the highlights remain at an impressive high....
Audio: 80
Balance touches during chase/action scenes shares the love, tracking motion with precision....
Extras: 40
...
Movie: 80
Peter Rabbit 2 resists for a time, then come the finale, Bea is skiing down mountains, chasing boats, and crossing the continent to recover animals – everything Oyelowo held dear and Bea resisted....
Total: 70
The self-awareness of Peter Rabbit 2 borders on parody, but it’s light family viewing that’s just behind Paddington for the CG character genre championship....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 82
Its presentation in Ultra HD was rendered from a 2K DI and up-converted to 4K. Color reproduction is consistent, with primary colors and earth tones appearing richer, even a bit more delineated by comparison....
Audio: 88
This is done very well and creates a tangible level of immersion that coincides with the onscreen events nicely, especially during the various adventure sequences in and around the city....
Extras: 50
Disc 1 Peter Rabbit 2 Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc 2: Peter Rabbit 2 Blu-ray • Bunnies, Baddies, and the Big City:...
Movie: 70
Adventuring out of the garden, Peter finds himself in a world where his mischief is appreciated, but when his family risks everything to come looking for him, Peter must figure out what kind of bunny he...
Total: 73
It comes to Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment featuring fair Ultra HD/excellent high-definition video, rewarding lossless surround sound, including a complimentary Dolby Atmos immersive sound...
Director: Will Gluck
Actors: Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, David Oyelowo
PlotThomas McGregor and Bea are now married and live in harmony with the mischievous Peter Rabbit and his animal friends. While Bea's book about Peter and his cohort has become a success, Peter struggles with his reputation as a naughty rabbit. Feeling misunderstood and seeking to escape his notoriety, Peter ventures beyond the garden. Once beyond the fence, he encounters a world where his mischief is appreciated, meeting an old friend of his father's who encourages Peter's rambunctious side.
As Peter finds himself embracing the thrill of the unknown, his family ventures out to find him. The McGregors, along with Peter's animal friends, face a challenging adventure as they encounter a variety of obstacles while trying to bring Peter home. They must navigate new environments and confront those who don't have their best interests at heart. Through their journey, they discover the importance of family and understanding one's identity beyond public perception.
Writers: Will Gluck, Patrick Burleigh, Beatrix Potter
Release Date: 11 Jun 2021
Runtime: 93 min
Rating: PG
Country: United States, Australia
Language: English, German