Miss Potter (2006)

Before Harry Potter was all the rage, Beatrix Potter, author of the Peter Rabbit Tales, was THE Potter. In fact, a short century ago, she was developing into the most popular children’s author of all time. In the film Miss Potter, Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor ably help recreate this fascinating tale.

Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger) comes from a well to do British family. Rather than getting married as society and family expected of a proper young lady, she spends her time coming up with stories and watercolor illustrations to accompany them. After selling some of her images to greeting card companies, she pitches her idea to a book publisher. The two senior brothers of the publisher push her off on their "new to the business" little brother Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor) to basically get him out of their way. What results is a series of books with worldwide sales that would make even JK Rowling proud.

The other side of the plot shows us the romance between the author and her publisher in 1902. Needless to say, the world was a much different place back then. Seeing the courtship, from a bygone era, complete with chaperon, and with letters, not phone calls and instant messages puts our current era of instant communications into a new focus. Miss Potter also touches on the author’s devotion to the Lake District of England, and its eventual preservation through her land purchases and bequests after her death.

Miss Potter is not only a delightful film, but it is also great insight into a very popular author. Renee Zellweger, with her British accent still ready to go after Bridget Jones's Diary (and its forgettable sequel), does a great job with the role. Miss Potter is a pleasant look into both this popular author, and England at the turn of the century for all ages.

Overall Grade: A-