"If we're kind and polite the world will be right."
The above quote is the mantra for the titular character of PADDINGTON 2, the marmalade-loving Peruvian bear Paddington Brown. Paddington, a popular children's book character (created by the late Michael Bond), begins the sequel to the 2014 original having settled into a quiet life with his adopted family, the Browns, The biggest concern he has is finding the perfect gift for his beloved Aunt Lucy. He finds it in a valuable, antique pop-up book of London sites but through a serious of misunderstandings, Paddington is framed for the theft of the book and sentenced to ten years in prison.
Yes. You read that last sentence correctly. The gentle. good-natured Paddington ends up in prison and what seems like the setup for a cynical parody of a children's film, in reality, becomes a tale of how much simple kindness can affect the world around you for the better.
It isn't long before Paddington, voiced with a gentle sweetness by Ben Whishaw (SKYFALL), has made the prison a happier place just by being kind and polite. He even wins over the toughest man in the prison, Knuckles McGinty played with fun bluster by Brendan Gleeson (IN BRUGES), by teaching him how to make orange marmalade in the prison's kitchen. It sounds ridiculous but the direction and writing of Paul King (THE MIGHTY BOOSH) coupled with Whishaw's note-perfect vocal performance and stunning CGI make Paddington a character that is impossible not to love. He is the rare leading character that is utterly wholesome but never becomes irritating or bland. He is consistently a character you truly root for and aspire to be like.
Speaking of Paul King's direction, there are many stand out sequences that harken back to Paddington's origin in other mediums. One is a sequence where our hero is tricked into escaping from the prison and it begins with the prison opening like a cutaway drawing in a children's book so that we can clearly track their escape route. Another sees Paddington daydreaming about showing his aunt around London while he looks through the pop-up book. This is visualized by them walking through London locations that look like they are directly from the book, rendered as two-dimensional images while Paddington's and his aunt stay photo realistic CGI creations. It is a clear homage to the classic 1970's FilmFair animated series and is simply one of the most beautiful sequences I have seen in a children's film.
While much of the film does rest on Paddington's charming shoulders and King's wonderful direction, what takes the film from good to great is the stellar supporting cast. The film is a cavalcade of British acting talent. I won't list them all (there's a truly staggering amount of cameos) but I will make special mention of Sally Hawkins (THE SHAPE OF THE WATER) and Hugh Bonneville (DOWNTON ABBEY) who return as the heads of Paddington's adopted family. They spend a large portion of the film working to clear Paddington's name and this presents them opportunities to show off their comedic sensibilities and they both turn in just as memorable performances as the first film.
I also have to mention the person who nearly steals the entire film away and considering how truly delightful everything about the film is I can't imagine higher praise than that. I'm speaking of course of the film's antagonist, Phoenix Buchanan, played with gusto by Hugh Grant (LOVE ACTUALLY), Buchanan is a washed-up actor and this bit of casting allows Grant to chew the scenery and play multiple characters, sometimes all within the same scene. It's clear from the first moment that Grant is not only up for whatever the script throws at him, he's also clearly having a great time and that sense of fun really shines through. It's a remarkably fun film filled with enjoyable moments.
Paddington 2 is a marvel of a film that stands side by side with the 2014 original. It's an instant classic that both adults and children will adore. It's a wonderful bonus that such an entertaining film also has such a great message about the importance of kindness. I can't recommend this film enough.
- Matthew Essary
(aka "Wheels")
