'Paddington 2' Review

Paddington 2 finds Paddington well adjusted to his new home and overjoyed to now be a part of the Brown family after the events of Paddington. With his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday on the horizon, Paddington decides he ought to search far and wide for the perfect present. While perusing Mr. Gruber's antique shop, Paddington settles on a unique pop-up book, but the book's out of his price range... Paddington then takes on a series of odd jobs to afford the precious present, but it's all for naught when the gift is stolen and Paddington is framed for the crime. It's then up to Paddington and the Browns to prove Paddington's innocence by uncovering the culprit truly responsible.

Paddington 2 bears witness to the return of Paul King as writer and directer, although King does receive some screenwriting assistance from Simon Farnaby this time around. King steps right back into his roles with relative ease as he's able to station audiences right back in the whimsical world they last left at the end of the fantastic first film. Oftentimes, sequels promise to deliver more of what viewers enjoyed about the original in their attempt to franchise a single commercial hit into a string of sequels and spin-offs. While Paddington 2 certainly follows that formula by keeping the charming characters and sentimental story up at the forefront, King successfully freshens things up a bit.

For one, the mild-mannered, marmalade enthusiast winds up in the slammer after a massive mishap. Perhaps, that may seem like an excuse for a series of silly shenanigans, but King utilizes the barren big house to emphasize how an infectiously upbeat attitude can turn an awful situation around. Obviously, this shouldn't be taken TOO literally. If you are imprisoned and attempt to befriend the hardened criminals surrounding you, you likely won't be as lucky as Paddington was. The films can be quite silly and unrealistic after all. However, King's messages are a cheerful source of encouragement to children that a positive outlook on life will always come in handy, even in the worst of times. 

It's well-intentioned moral lessons like this that are scarcely found among family-friendly fare these days. Sure, there are occasional animated ventures that stand above the rest. Last year, it was Coco and The LEGO Batman Movie, but for each of those exceptional examples, there were countless cash grabs to be found including the likes of Despicable Me 3, The Emoji Movie, and Ferdinand. I don't bring this topic up in order to drag those movies through the mud again, but rather to point out a greater problem in Hollywood. In an effort to make a quick buck, studios hardly pay attention to the importance of story, character, and worthwhile messages in their family-friendly content, which is precisely why it's reassuring to see such a sweet sequel as Paddington 2. I don't say this with the mindset that you won't find another quality family film released this year, because I'm sure there will be at least a couple, but merely to implore how genuinely goodnatured Paddington 2 is in comparison to other entertainment today.

Now I'm sure many of you reading this review have "100%" running through your mind because that's the current Rotten Tomatoes critic rating for Paddington 2... You may have come for further validation that this film is deserving of such a distinguished honor or because you think it's impossible that Paddington 2 of all things has a 100%. I personally believe the general public have begun to place way too much emphasis on this number, but that's a discussion I'd like to have another day with a post detailing why Rotten Tomatoes really doesn't matter. So to go ahead and quickly address this, I'll quickly explain the mechanics of Rotten Tomatoes (if you know how it works, go ahead and skip over this). A 100% rating does not mean every critic rated Paddington 2 with a perfect score. It actually means every Rotten Tomatoes certified critic gave the film a "fresh" review (meaning they liked the film). The Rotten Tomatoes score is set up as an aggregate compilation of the results of a binary choice, "fresh" or "rotten." A certified critic determines one or the other when linking their trade review to the site. The mass conspiracy that the site is rigged in favor of particular films is absurd and incorrect. It's as simple as the critic liked it or they didn't. That's all there is to it.

So with that insight, I wouldn't say the 100% necessarily reflects the film's quality, but it'd be especially difficult to find anyone who wouldn't be won over by Paddington 2's winsome charm. Paddington 2 is just as quirky, cute, and colorful as the original in every way imaginable. The cinematography ranges from simple and subtle-to-sweeping and grandiose while the editing enabled plenty of smooth transitions for almost two hours of well-paced pleasantries. The effort that went into the costume/production design, set decoration, and art direction is also quite apparent as the picturesque handicraft shines stupendously and Paddington once again looks extraordinary as a credible CG-creature in the live action setting, so hats off the vfx team as well! In regards to music, Dario Marianelli steps in as the sequel's new composer and manages to string together a swell accompaniment full of heart and character all on its own.

As for the film's illustrious ensemble, those brilliant Brits have done it again! Voicing the polite Peruvian bear, Ben Whishaw exceptionally articulates Paddington's goodnatured, naive intentions once more. Newcomer Brendan Gleeson steals a great many scenes as Knuckles McGinty, the prisons's hardened chef who's quickly won over by the courteous, cuddly teddy. The other inmates offer ample comedic relief, but none were necessarily stand-outs.

Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, and Julie Walters all return as the respective members of the Brown family including the compassionate mother Mary, fervent father Henry, headstrong Judy, insecure Jonathan, and fiery Ms. Bird. Each has their moment in the limelight, but Hawkins and Bonneville are allotted the most screen-time as the peculiar parents. Other familiar faces (and voices) found among the distinguished ensemble are Peter Capaldi, Imelda Staunton, and Jim Broadbent who excel with the material provided to them.

Taking the place of Nicole Kidman's campy antagonist, Hugh Grant plays an array of kooky caricatures as formerly well-renowned character actor Phoenix Buchanan. He doesn't quite relish in his malevolence like most villains... Instead, Grant delightfully soaks in the glory of Buchanan's ego, acting abilities, and a bit of Sondheim (stick around through the first half end credits to see an utterly delightful song and dance number). 

Paddington 2 is a family-friendly film that best bears resemblance to its titular marmalade-obsessed Ursidae. It's a sequel that's cute, kind, full of wholesome values, and well worth spending an afternoon alongside.

Film Assessment: A