- Title: Paddington 2
- IMDb: link
The sequel to 2014’s Paddington brings back the cast for another adventure this time swapping out Nicole Kidman for Hugh Grant as the film’s villain. The trope of the obviously innocent hero being convicted for a crime no one believes he committed is one of my least favorite, but Paddington 2 makes it work by tapping into the same earnestness and heartfelt nature of the original film.
While attempting to earn enough money as a window washer to buy Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) a birthday present, Paddington (Ben Whishaw) gets on the wrong side of the law. The loveable bear is accused of stealing the pop-up book he was planning to purchase which was actually taken by actor and neighbor Phoenix Buchanan (Grant). Buchanan uses a series of ridiculous disguises to both steal the book and visit places where it leads, hoping to uncover a hidden treasure.
Paddington’s path leads him to prison where he quickly makes friends with hardened criminals including Knuckles McGinty (Brendan Gleeson) by introducing them to marmalade sandwiches and respect for their fellow man. Paddington 2 goes all-in in showcasing the little bear’s effect on others, always bringing out the best in them. The sequel amps up both the set pieces and the action sequences including Paddington riding a dog to chase down Buchanan, Paddington’s window-washing service, the prison break, and the climactic finale aboard a moving train.
With Paddington on his own for the majority of the film, we don’t see as much interaction between our main character the Brown family, but they do keep working on their own to prove his innocence eventually discovering the guilt of Buchanan through some shenanigans that would be worthy of the bear himself. And the film points out early on Paddington’s effect on the neighborhood and how his absence makes their world a bit darker. The neighbors, like Paddington’s prison friends, do get to show their support at the end, and the Browns step in to both save Paddington’s life during the climax and, in the film’s tear-jerking epilogue, provide the best present any bear could ever receive.
Watch the trailer
