Paddington 2 Review
Paddington struck the right chord with audiences upon its initial release in 2014. The British film, based on Michael Bonds children’s book of the same name had an uphill battle to climb upon its release, with most people expecting a run of the mill, surface level kid’s movie. However, to all our surprise, we were treated with a delightful and heartfelt tale about a bear from the Amazon facing the harsh reality of a big city like London.
I must admit, while I thoroughly enjoyed Paddington, I didn’t go head over heels for it like most people I knew. It wasn’t until a second viewing of it just a few weeks ago that I really realized what a gift that first movie is.
Now, Paddington 2 seems to be getting the same over the moon reactions that the majority of audiences had for its predecessor. People can’t help but fall in love with the kind-hearted, marmalade eating bear.
What Paddington 2 does so well, similar to the first installment, is it refuses to take the easy way out by being labeled as a children’s film. “Kid’s film” usually gives studios the excuse to put out a dumbed down and uninteresting story with bright and colorful visuals. Paddington 2, on the other hand, is something that anyone with a heart will enjoy. British films are always filled with lots of wit and charm and this movie is no exception. The thought and care put into this project is clear in everything from the dialogue to the small, clever references to past events and gags in the series. Coming from a British rather than US studio, the movie feels a lot smarter than a majority of the kid’s movies that Hollywood churns out. The creators of Paddington 2 clearly care about the material and took pride in creating the best piece of entertainment possible.
The movie weirdly feels like a toned down Wes Anderson movie. That’s in no way a bad thing and because of it, the result is an unexpectedly mature film that parents will enjoy just as much, if not more than their children. It has its own unique style and the visual storytelling is just as strong as any other element.
Hugh Grant gives a fun performance as well and his character easily rivals Nicole Kidman’s role as an evil taxidermist from the first one. He’s somewhat of a spoof on the old, washed up actor forced to take on unglamorous roles to pay the bills. The angle works and it’s a good source for some of the best jokes in the film.
Paddington 2 is everything you’d expect after seeing the first one and looking and its overwhelmingly positive critical response. It’s not an awards level picture but it’s an extremely feel good and delightful escape that I wish more movies were. This film put a huge smile on my face and that’s exactly what I wanted. Not to mention an ending that almost got me to tears. Definitely go check this one out.
