Jungle
Paddington 2

Paddington 2

Movie
Director(s): 
Genre: 
In Theatres: 
Jan 12, 2018
Grade:
A
Running Time: 
103 minutes

January is normally the worst month to release a film, but every once in a while there comes a movie that takes audiences by surprise. That was the case when Paddington came out in 2015, which ended up being a heartwarming film that was fun for the entire family. Three years later and director/writer Paul King has done it again with Paddington, a sequel that manages to outshine the original and is the first great film of 2018.

 

Paddington (Ben Whishaw) has settled down with the Brown family and been accepted by most of the neighborhood community. In anticipation of his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, Paddington eyes a new London popup book that antique shop owner Mr. Gruber (Jim Broadbent) has recently come into possession of. Unfortunately, the book also catches the eye of has-been actor Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant). He believes the popup book contains clues that will lead to a wondrous fortune so he decides to steal it from the shop. Paddington witnesses the theft and takes chase but ends up being the one accused of stealing the book and is set to prison as a result. Jail is no place for a marmalade-eating bear, but Paddington makes the best of a bad situation while the Brown family does everything they can in order to clear his name.

 

Paddington 2 just might be the most heartwarming film I’ve ever seen. Every scene just oozes warmth, much like an overstuffed marmalade sandwich. Paddington has always seen the goodness in everyone so when he gets sent to prison he sees it as another opportunity to make things better for others. Watching him teach the surly prison cook Nuckles (Brendan Gleeson) how to make an orange marmalade just melts your heart. Paddington has the ability to make even the most hardened criminals change their bad ways just by being nice to them. If prisoners can learn to love Paddington, there’s way audiences won’t fall in love with him as well.

 

At a time when much of the news coming out of Hollywood is rather bleak, Paddington 2 is a hopeful ray of sunshine that highlights the best of humanity. It may be a kid’s movie but adults will love it as well. 2018 is no doubt the year of the bear with Paddington 2. Between the the wonderful first film and an even better sequel, hopefully it won’t be another three years before we see Paddington again. He’s just too wonderful a bear to pass up.

Matt Rodriguez
Review by Matt Rodriguez
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