‘Enchanting’ period drama as good as Downton Abbey now on Amazon Prime
The biographical period drama stars Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. Fans call it ‘sweet and charming’ despite mixed reviews.
Directed by Chris Noonan, the 2006 biographical period drama Miss Potter chronicles the life and work of beloved children’s author Beatrix Potter.
Blending animated sequences featuring iconic characters from her world-famous stories with real-life anecdotes and experiences, the film crafts a touching and warmhearted tale for audiences everywhere.
Written by Richard Maltby Jr., the Tony Award-winning director behind the Broadway musical revue Fosse, Miss Potter features Renée Zellweger in the titular role, alongside Ewan McGregor as her fiancé and publisher Norman Warne, and Lloyd Owen as her solicitor William Heelis.
The film grossed over $35.8 million at the worldwide box office, against a production budget of approximately $30 million.
For her outstanding portrayal, Bridget Jones’s Diary star Renée Zellweger earned nominations for both a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and a Saturn Award for Best Actress.
The biographical drama brings the remarkable story of Beatrix Potter, the treasured author and illustrator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, to the big screen, according to the Express.
Miss Potter takes a deep dive into the hardships and struggles faced by Beatrix Potter, as she navigates obstacles in the publishing world, societal expectations, and the heartache of personal loss.
Despite these obstacles, Potter pushed through and displayed remarkable creativity to cement her reputation as a beloved children’s author. Critical reception of Miss Potter has been divided, earning a 68% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
One critic was full of praise for the lead performances: “…boasts terrific work from both Renée and McGregor that’s heightened by their palpable chemistry together..”
Yet not every critic was won over, with one dismissing it as “Enchanting, perhaps, but a long, long way from meaningful.”
Drawing comparisons to the hit series Downton Abbey, one critic said the film was “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.”
The film is based on a true story
A glowing review highlighted Zellweger’s portrayal of the iconic author: “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 reactions were equally mixed, with one moviegoer applauding the production: “Chris Noonan did an excellent job of keeping it authentic. Zellweger fits this perfectly, a truly unique character of her times.”
The film has garnered a wide range of reactions from viewers, with some showering it with praise.
One fan said: “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.”
Another simply stated: “Remarkable indeed” However, not everyone was won over, with one viewer offering a blunter assessment: “Extremely odd and extremely dumb.” While another critic weighed in with: “The script for this biopic is a mess.”
For Renée, Miss Potter marked her first venture into executive producing.
Speaking to IndieLondon about the experience, she said: “It was a terrible idea and I’ll probably never do it again [laughs].”
Before quickly adding: “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.” She concluded: “They said OK, so we did.”
Despite the mixed reviews, devoted fans remain passionate about the film, with one saying: “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.”
Meanwhile, one particularly harsh critic pulled no punches regarding Renée’s portrayal of Beatrix Potter, stating: “Renée Zellweger is a disaster.” And further lambasting it as: “A totally artificial and preposterous performance.”
