Movie Review: Miss Potter

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Acting, scenery

Cons: Moved too quickly at times

The Bottom Line:

There are some slight flaws

But mostly enjoyable

And well worth watching

Charming Biography

Miss Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger) has just about given up hope that she will ever get her story published. But she is surprised with the Warner Brothers decided to give her children's story and water color illustrations a chance. What she doesn't know is that they don't hold out much hope for it. They just think it is a good project to keep youngest brother Norman (Ewan McGregor) busy.

Miss Potter has her own vision for the book and is surprised to find that Mr. Warner shares her vision. The two work closely together on developing the perfect book.

Beatrix had planned to just write one, but at the encouragement of Norman, she begins working on more. And as the books begin to sell, the two become closer.

None of this sits well with Beatrix's parents (Bill Paterson and Barbara Flynn). Mrs. Potter especially thinks that their daughter should have married into a suitable match ages ago. And suitable can only mean someone with old money. But her parent's objections to her new found fame and relationship are about to be the least of her worries.

Like most kids of the last century, I have read and enjoyed Beatrix Potter's books. I knew very little about her life, however. This film made me curious, so I began to read more about her life. What I saw here matched pretty well to what I know. Obviously some details were changed for dramatic purposes, but the general details are true.

The movie focuses on the beginnings of Beatrix's writing career and her relationship with Norman. Near the beginning we are treated to a few flashbacks to her childhood, but just enough to show how she came to be the woman she was. The transitions between the present and past are easy to follow and do add to the story.

All the performances are good. Ewan McGregor is great as publisher Norman. He is rather shy around Beatrix and comes off as charming. Renee's Beatrix is a little over the top at first, but she quickly grows on you. The two have good chemistry together, and I believed every minute of their relationship. Barbara Flynn does a great job in the thankless role of Beatrix's overbearing mother. Emily Watson plays Norman's sister and Beatrix's friend. This is the one relationship I wish they had developed further. The two are great together and seeing more of them would have made the movie stronger.

Parts of the film take place in the English Lake District, and it was filmed on location. It makes the scenery absolutely beautiful during these scenes.

The ads for the movie showed Beatrix's drawings coming to life. Over the course of the movie, she treats them like friends, and at times they do come to life. These scenes never overwhelm the film but add to the current mood.

My only complaint is the movie feels like it moves too quickly. I often wished it would slow down a little and explore the relationships just a little better. I never had a hard time keeping up with the film, just wish for more detail. The film is only 92 minutes, and it could have been longer without any problems. Still, this is a minor complaint.

This film has been out for several years now.  If you've missed it during that time, go back and watch Miss Potter now.  You'll be glad you did.