by MARK SLUTSKY

Like millions of kids, I grew up with the books of Beatrix Potter and her winsome, waistcoated animal creations: Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, the whole crazy crew. But I was never particularly curious about the life of the author. As it turns out, Potter led a life that was, well, not incredibly exciting, but, let’s say, interesting. Okay, notable. At least worth making a movie about, at least in some people’s eyes, as Chris Noonan’s Miss Potter joins the ranks of movies like Finding Neverland in its tale of a Victorian-era author whose childlike sensibility scandalized society. Or, honestly, in Potter’s case, mildly embarrassed her parents.

An unmarried 32-year-old living with her wealthy family, we first meet our heroine, played by Renée Zellweger (who co-produced) as she shops around Peter Rabbit to various skeptical publishers. They seem to be put off by her directness and the horrible habit she has of referring to her animal creations as her “friends.” Still, one publisher, looking to provide employment for an aimless brother (Ewan McGregor) agrees, and the two misfits work together to bring her hand-painted menagerie to the world.

For the first half hour or so, I found this movie completely insufferable and unacceptable. Like Finding Neverland, Miss Potter attempts to draw the viewer into the world of the artist with various magical-realist touches—Potter’s drawings come to life when she talks to them etc. The winking rabbits, cutesy chatter and a generally untenable atmosphere of forced whimsy had me squirming.

Okay, I hate when this happens, but this movie actually began to get to me. As the movie progresses and a forbidden (well, more like disapproved-of) romance begins between Zellweger and McGregor, it actually gets a lot more engaging. I must admit to feeling a little investment in the beleaguered couple’s minor triumphs and tragedies.

By the end, I was actually pretty into it. And man, I did not see that coming! It’s not like that much even happens! Credit here should probably go to the two leads, whose shy charm and understated performances really sell the romance. Somehow they manage to make what should by all rights be a totally insipid period biopic into a very pleasant, if light, entertainment.

Miss Potter opens Friday, Jan. 12

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