Paddington 2

• Written and Directed by Paul King
• November 5, 2017 (London) / November 10, 2017 (UK) / December 6, 2017 (France)
• Based on the stories of the character Paddington Bear created by Michael Bond

After he is framed for a burglary, Paddington and the Browns must find the real culprit to prove his innocence.

Like the first one, Paddington 2 comes off as a warm hug. There’s something sweet and endearing from the first few frames. It’s a world where anything is possible with none of those possibilities being negative. Even the most minor things take on a heartwarming fantasy feel. It’s a world you wish you lived in based on the possibilities and how the people that inhabit it are.

You could look at Paddington 2 as a series of misadventures. Each one stands alone yet connects into a complete and smoothly flowing story. The accident in the barbershop comes into play later. The window washing that Paddington (voice of Ben Winshaw) pays off in the finale as does so much else. They are more than cute episodes.

The humor leans into slapstick. Much of it borders on cartoonish by pushing what is acceptable as an element of reality (talking bears aside). There are even jokes in the newspapers which the camera shows just enough of for you to pick up some but never all. This movie is packed not only with story, but with stuff for lack of a better word. Paul King was not trying to jam in one thing after another but give you a very meaty movie.

This film is always going. It’s always developing something-either the characters or the story or both. It never really wastes time and is very economic in what it does. It has a message and it develops that as well. And maybe even advertently based the return of cranky neighbor Reginald Curry (Peter Capaldi) says some people will never learn that message because they’re just too bitter. 

I first heard about the impact of Paddington 2’s ending when watching The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. I thought they were being a bit silly (which they definitely were) but it does pack some punch. What begins the basics rolling is Paddington’s desire to get his Aunt Lucy (voice of Imelda Staunton) a pop-up picture book of London because it had always been her dream to visit the city. All that happened was to get her a gift to make her dream come true but due to events Paddington fails in his mission.

His friends and new family-those whose lives he touched-knowing of his wish pull their resources and rather than gift his aunt the book he was trying to save up for, they bring her to London to actually see the city. It is a moving moment between two CGI bears as they embrace.

Hugh Grant is Phoenix Buchanan, a washed-up actor stuck in dogfood commercials dreaming of making a big comeback. He is the villain of Paddington 2 and wants the pop-up book because he knows it is a treasure map and plans to use the loot to finance a one-man show for his big comeback.

Grant is a perfect mockery of the self-important yet only mildly talented actor. He has bought his own hype and believes putting on a show to frame his greatness will bring the masses back to him. He is pompous and condescending. Buchanan by the end puts his skills to a personally satisfying use once in prison. More Paddington goodness at work?

It’s weird that a family movie did this but even Paddington spends some time in prison where his good ways make the prisoners better people and improve their lives. This sweet character who is not without his tough side (don’t forget about that stare of his) is able to stand up against a fearsome prison cook Knuckles McGinty (Brendan Gleeson) and not only changes his heart but reforms him. 

There are some moments of adult humor that maybe won’t go over the heads or children but aren’t so blue and inappropriate that even the most prudish of parents will feel concerned. It accomplishes family friendly without ever talking down to the audience. If there is any lesson in the Paddington films-this one in particular-is that an individual proceeds with a pure heart then good will prosper. Paddington’s genuine good nature has reverberations to the world around him.

Paddington 2 is a fantastic sequel that is as good if not a little better than the original. It improves on what worked in the first film later and creates a charming and heartwarming story that you can enjoy by yourself or with your family.