Period drama with 'amazing chemistry' fans say is 'just like Downton Abbey'
The biographical period drama takes a look at the life and career of beloved children's author Beatrix Potter
Chris Noonan's 2006 biographical period drama, Miss Potter, delves into the life and career of the much-loved children's author Beatrix Potter. Incorporating animated sequences of familiar characters from her globally acclaimed children's tales, Miss Potter intertwines anecdotes and experiences from Beatrix Potter's own life, presenting them in a heartwarming and captivating way for the big screen.
Penned by Richard Maltby Jr. , the Tony Award-winning director of the Broadway musical revue Fosse, Miss Potter features Renée Zellweger in the lead role. It also features Ewan McGregor portraying her fiancé and publisher, Norman Warne, as well as Lloyd Owen taking on the role of Beatrix Potter's solicitor, William Heelis.
Miss Potter raked in over $35.8million worldwide, against a production budget of roughly $30million. In recognition of Renéer's stellar performance, the Bridget Jones Diary actress was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and a Saturn Award for Best Actress for the film.
The biographical drama brings to life the story of Beatrix Potter, the cherished author and illustrator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, reports the Express. Set in the early 20th-century England, Miss Potter delves into author Beatrix Potter's life as she confronts challenges in publishing, societal pressure, family expectations, and personal tragedies.
Navigating through these hurdles with determination and inventiveness, Beatrix Potter cements herself as a distinguished icon among children's writers of all time. The film received a medley of responses, garnering a 68 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
While critics were divided, one acknowledged the leading performances: "...boasts terrific work from both Renée and McGregor that's heightened by their palpable chemistry together.." Another provided more subdued feedback: "Enchanting, perhaps, but a long, long way from meaningful."
One reviewer compared the period piece to the highly acclaimed Downton Abbey, describing it as: "Always accessible in a Downton-Abbey-goes-to-Play-School kind of way, as evidenced by Renée Zellweger's chipper portrayal of Potter as a bustle-skirted bundle of squinty smiles and sudden blushes." Conversely, Renée's interpretation of Potter was warmly received, with praise noting: "Portraying a real-life hero can be a tough assignment.
"But Zellweger breezes through the role, flashing her puckish grin, talking in her soft, breathy voice and giving very human face to one of the most beloved figures of English letters." Audience reviews for the film were decidedly split; one fan expressed their approval, saying: "Chris Noonan did an excellent job of keeping it authentic.
"Zellweger fits this perfectly, a truly unique character of her times. Amazing cinematography and a stellar cast, all outstanding in their character.
"Lovely to look at and filled with perseverance and true grit. Filled with fantastic ideas and wonder.
"Remarkable indeed." In contrast, another viewer was far from impressed, remarking: "Extremely odd and extremely dumb.
"The script for this biopic is a mess." Miss Potter marked Renée's debut as an executive producer.
In conversation with IndieLondon about her experience, Renée shared: "It was a terrible idea and I'll probably never do it again [laughs]. No, I'm just joking.
"It was a really interesting learning opportunity and I asked the guys if they would be interested in that kind of partnership because I really wanted us to get through creatively with these guys. They said OK, so we did."
One enthusiastic viewer labelled 'Miss Potter' as their ultimate film choice, penning: "It's one of my favorite movies - I would watch it over and over again. It's very sweet and charming.
"I love how brave and enchanting she was." Yet, another spectator was scathing in their critique of Renée's take on Beatrix Potter, bluntly stating: "Renée Zellweger is a disaster.
"A totally artificial and preposterous performance."
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