Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.
Though I enjoyed the first movie, it wasn’t as if I was clamoring for a sequel. But hey, not all sequels are inherently bad. I loved it so much that when I got home, my hubby and I actually re-watched the first Paddington. You know what, this sequel actually surpasses the original!
I love that writer/director Paul King gave the ever lovable bear an enchanting backstory and here we’re reminded once again where he came from (Peru) and how he got his genteel manner. “If you’re kind and polite the world will be right,” that’s his mantra, which is something everyone of us should live by. This movie has sooo much heart and the kind of British humor that really tickles my fancy. All the shenanigans he runs into in various jobs are hysterical, the barbershop and window-cleaning scenes had me in stitches. But the best scene is definitely in prison, and Brendan Gleeson is a riot as the fearful prison cook with a fun name, Knuckles McGinty.
But the real scene-stealer here is Hugh Grant who embraces his brilliant comic timing and puts it to good use. He plays Phoenix Buchanan (another fun name!), a has-been theatre actor who’s now relegated to doing dog food commercial. The various disguises are hilarious, hard to pick a favorite though the nun-scene is a particularly memorable one. It makes for some fun AND funny action scenes as Paddington has to retrieve the stolen gift for his aunt Lucy, as well as clear his name.
The Brown family (with Sally Hawkins and Hugh Bonneville reprising their roles as Paddington’s adoptive parents) are fun to watch as well. It’s amusing to see the incredible range of Hawkins’ acting ability in two extremely different performances (the other one is in The Shape of Water) in the span of a single week. I love how no scene is wasted in this movie, even the seemingly-throwaway scene of each family member’s new hobby has a purpose later in the movie. Julie Walters is always a hoot as Mrs. Bird, oh and one of my fave comedians Richard Ayoade also made a cameo!
In the end, the star of the show has always been Paddington himself, voiced brilliantly by Ben Whishaw with his wonderfully soothing voice. It’s a VERY British movie and so of course the Anglophile in me loved every moment. This jolly good fun ride is accompanied by a lively score by Dario Marianelli (whose Pride & Prejudice is my listening staple). A thoroughly joyful experience, this is one franchise I hope will keep on going.
*Yep this one gets a rare perfect score from me, I can’t find a single thing wrong w/ it!
Have you seen Paddington 2? Did you love it as much as I did?
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I love Paddington so much! All it’s reviews have been just as cute as the bear 😀
Also, put Blue Jasmine, Maudie and Happy-Go-Lucky in you to-watch list. It stars Sally Hawkins and these two are simply wonderful movies.
Glad you love Paddington too! The sequel is even more adorable.
I have seen Blue Jasmine but will definitely check out the other two, thanks Shivani!
I adored this one. The first film was such a surprise. To surpass it is really an achievement! And I don’t think Hugh Grant has ever been funnier.
I know, to surpass the original is always a feat. It’s such a hilarious movie but yes Hugh Grant definitely was the scene stealer!
Just posted a review as well and I’m 100% with you Ruth. This thing is an absolute delight. It was funny, before our showing there were three trailers for “kids movies” and I noticed each of them had some variation of the overused fart joke. Then Paddington 2 comes on and gives us a smarter, far more original movie. I was smiling from ear-to-ear when I left the theater.
I so agree Keith! I’m so glad there was no crude or juvenile jokes in Paddington 2, which is so refreshing! It’s also not mean-spirited like many of the supposedly family-friendly fares.
You just convinced me to watch it. The reason I avoided this one (though I love comedies) was that it is so British. It is not “exotic” or fascinating enough for me, but since Dario Marianelli provides a score and Sally Hawkins and Hugh Grant star, I will give it a go! Great review.
Hi there! Ahah, it IS very British but that’s one of the reasons I love it as I’m a bit of an Anglophile 😀 I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, in fact I think I’m gonna see it once more on the big screen!
Hey Ruth! Hope you’re well. Sorry I’ve been quiet again of late; started a new job last week and the previous few weeks have been spent sorting stuff out. As for Paddington 2, all I can say is YES! Absolutely loved it from start to finish. A sheer joy; and Grant was great.
Congrats on your new job, hope you’re liking it so far, Mark. Yay on Paddington 2, it’s rare for any sequel to surpass the original but this one was thoroughly delightful. I really can’t find a single thing wrong w/ it!
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