Settled in with the Brown
family, Paddington the bear is a popular member of the community who spreads
joy and marmalade wherever he goes. One fine day, he spots a pop-up book in an
antique shop -- the perfect present for his beloved aunt's 100th birthday. When
a thief steals the prized book, Paddington embarks on an epic quest to unmask
the culprit before Aunt Lucy's big celebration.
Director: Paul King
Cast: Hugh Grant, Brendan
Gleeson, Sally Hawkins, Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville
Release Date: Jan 12, 2018
Rated PG for some action
and mild rude humor
Runtime: 1 hr. 44 min.
Genres: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy
Review:
The first Paddington was
a surprisingly fun adaptation of the classic children’s book. It was the rare film that actually captured
the spirit of the character instead of just mining the source material for a
quick buck. Having lighting strike twice
seemed like a long shot but Paul King’s lovingly made sequel continued the
first film’s legacy. It’s nearly
impossible not to be charmed by the story from the start. It’s the best kind of kid’s film, one that
never panders to its audience and has a tangible heart beat. Ben Whishaw is just a perfect in this sequel
as the titular bear, making him endearing and lovable. The returning cast members like Hugh
Bonneville and Sally Hawkins are solid throughout with Hawkins getting more to
do in the second half of the film. Hugh
Grant is clearly having a ball as Phoenix Buchanan, the villain in this
chapter. Buchanan’s character is a lot
more memorable than the first film’s adversary which is to the sequel’s
benefit. Add in a fun supporting turn by
Bredan Gleenson and you’ve got the rare kids sequel that improves on original
while never losing the spirit of the characters.
A
