Paddington 2: Film Review

Paddington 2: Film Review

Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, Peter Capaldi
Director: Paul King

Those looking for deeper meaning in Paddington 2, the sequel to the thoroughly charming first outing in 2014, could argue it's a tale of tolerance and the difference made by an immigrant in pre-Brexit Britain viewed with post-Brexit eyes.

But those looking for a familial romp, ripped and slightly bastardised from Michael Bond's original writings will also be deeply satiated too.

Loosely this magical tale, with its deft visuals and genuinely naïve Whishaw lilting vocals, concerns itself with Paddington's desire to get his Aunt Lucy the perfect birthday present.

Settling on a pop-up book in the local antiques shop, the bear takes a series of jobs to obtain the right amount of cash.

But when he sees the book stolen one night, he's framed for the crime he didn't commit, jailed and left hoping the Brown family can save the day.

It's easy to dismiss the likes of Paddington in the cynical CGI world we currently live in, but the fact that it takes the simple things and does them well is very much to the film's credit and definitely not to its detriment.

With its raft of cameos (perhaps more familiar to British audiences than international ones) and its simple tale brilliantly executed, it's the ultimate family fare in more ways than one.

There's a great heart to Paddington 2 - and the director's smart enough to ensure that there are plenty of laughs as well.

From pratfalling Paddington (channeling his very best CGI Chaplin in early scenes) to Brendan Gleeson gleefully delivering lines that are amusingly written and fall shy of stereotypes, there's a feel-good air which permeates Paddington 2 and makes it thoroughly charismatic.

As well as Whishaw's heartfelt delivery of the innocent bear's lines, much of the credit has to go to Hugh Grant, the villain of the piece. Playing a luvvie who's fallen from grace, and who's got a tendency to drop into other characters at the drop of a hat, Grant's deft delivery and definitively hammy (but not overly so)'s Phoenix Buchanan is as much a villain as a misunderstood hero.

Throughout, Paddington 2 treads a fine line between reverence and going its own way - it's to King's credit that it all emerges and blurs into one generally well-intentioned final product. It may be sentimental in many ways, but Paddington 2's view of a fantasy Britain where everyone gets along has both a basis in reality and the dreamworld.

Ultimately, Paddington 2 is perfect family holiday entertainment.

Bathed in a warm glow of fun, with a generous helping of holiday heart, this bear is likely to offer you a big cinematic hug from beginning to end.