The Velveteen Rabbit movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The Velveteen Rabbit movie review

This quaint remake is now streaming on Apple TV+.

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 44 minutes long

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

Based on the classic book by Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit celebrates the magic of unconditional love. When William receives a new favorite toy for Christmas, he discovers a lifelong friend and unlocks a world of magic.

This family-friendly movie is directed by Jennifer Perrott and Rick Thiele and written by Tom Bidwell and Margery Williams.

THINGS I LIKED:

The voice talents of the animated characters include Helena Bonham Carter, Alex Lawther, Paterson Joseph, Nicola Coughlan, and Lois Chimimba.
The young actor who plays William, Phoenix Laroche, is completely adorable.
It’s clever how the film merges animation with live action to blend imagination with reality. We also see some stop-motion animation in the scenes when the toys chat together.
The movie is very simple with an old-fashioned feel to it. We’re swept back in time to the 1920s in a convincing way.
There are just a few, minor changes from the original book, but they don’t make a big difference in the viewing of the film. For example, rather than use the name “Skin Horse”, it’s now called the “Wise Horse.”
While the story is sweet, it’s also very melancholy and even painful as a reminder that the magic of childhood doesn’t last forever.
Ultimately, the original tale is a reminder that the magic in our lives is created when we love others.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The movie felt so short…and it is. I get it though. The book is short too, so it’s best not to add filler content just to beef up the length.
The ending seemed to come so abruptly and subtly. I would have liked to see more magic in the final transformation to make it clear to children what happened, as well as some wisdom from the horse about love.
The only character with any warmth is Momo, played by Tilly Vosburgh.
There is a deep sadness in the story and I don’t know if it will resonate well with today’s children who are used to happy endings and dance-filled celebrations.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

You’ll want to talk to your kids about what is real and what is pretend. This movie might be confusing for them.
Talk of the rampant Scarlet Fever that swept through the country in the 1920s.
Adults may enjoy this nostalgic remake more than their kids whose palette has become accustomed to bright, fast films with lots of wisecracking, funny characters.

THEMES:

Making friends
Love
Judgment
Change
Magic
Imagination

INTERESTING LINES

“When a child loves you, you become real. That’s how the magic works.” – The Wise Horse (Helena Bonham Carter)
“You don’t become real by making someone love you. You become real when you act with unconditional love and kindness like you did last night.” – Fairy (Nicola Coughlan)
“Being real is not about how you look; it’s about what’s in your heart.” – Fairy (Nicola Coughlan)
“Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all because, once you are real, you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” – The Wise Horse (Helena Bonham Carter)