Paddington 2 (2018)

As someone who thoroughly enjoyed the first 'Paddington' movie, this sequel was a must see for me. Not only does it not disappoint, as so many hyped movie sequels do, it exceeds all expectations and is arguably the better of the two films. 'Paddington 2' is another visual feast - the warm, vibrant animation is just phenomenal and a delight to watch, and the London setting is once again captured perfectly.In terms of the plot, I actually think 'Paddington 2' is even more enjoyable than its predecessor. It's full of ideas and creativity and contains so many laughs and memorable individual scenes. The cast is also brilliant, with the two Hughs (Grant & Bonneville) delivering particularly entertaining performances in their roles. And of course, Paddington is as charming as ever. This is another perfect family film and a sequel that, for once, lives up to all expectations.

As a rule of thumb, like gold dust that a movie sequel can top its predecessor apropos of quality since it is disposed to rest on the latter's laurels, Paul King's PADDINGTON 2 is an exception, although if truth to be told, the first one doesn't necessarily set up a rather insuperable grade, itself is a passable family fare targeting audience of lower age group with a predilection for animated, fluffy anthropomorphic bears, still, this sequel manages to amp up its aesthetic flair while cleaving to an unashamedly family-friendly tenet like its antecedent. Paddington (voiced by Whishaw, proffering soothing cadence to a jaded ear), now lives harmoniously with the Browns, and buckles down in earning enough dinero to buy a pop-up book of London for his auntie Lucy's (Staunton) upcoming centennial birthday, only is summarily sent to the prison under wrongful conviction of pilfering the said book, whereas the Browns are concertedly combing through clues to sniff out the real burglar, a narcissistic has-been actor Phoenix Buchanan (Grant), who believes the book will lead him to a hidden treasure which can resurrect his dead-end career from debasing dog-food commercials.Apart from several endearing comic skits (including one about Paddington working in a barbershop) and a stupendous passage in the pop-up book with cut-outs, it is Paddington's penitentiary adventure inducing most amazement from disbelief-suspending spectators, not just for its knowing emulation of Wes Anderson's THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2014), in particular, the cliché jail-springing sequences, interlaced with a homage to Chaplin's MODERN TIMES (1936), but also the candy-striped tableaux, the epicurean revamp of the ghastly prison menu and Paddington's new-found friendship with a fellow jailbird, the rough diamond Knuckles (a disarmingly huff-and-puff Gleeson in a cook's hat), all bundled together to melt our hearts with its salutary if saccharine condiments.The original cast returns with upgraded fervor to right any wrong standing in their way, Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Brown is submersed into another waterlogged scenario to rescue a beloved one, and a starchy Hugh Bonneville is tasked with a split leap to bowl audience over, but the spotlight is resoundingly cast upon the newcomer, Grant's delectably cutesy antagonist, burlesquing away in full throttle, and belatedly, ludicrously finds his feet and audience when being cooped up, please stay put when the closing credits roll.Apparently, Paddington's bearish otherness is a thinly veiled metaphor of an immigrant of any persuasions, PADDINGTON 2 reinforces the benign message of inclusion and acceptance that propitiously, may sow its seeds in any labile young hearts of its core audience, a beneficial indoctrination by way of fairy-tale artifice, that ought to summarize its universal appeal and grant a pardon for its blatant wanderlust endorsement suspiciously bankrolled by London's tourism bureau.

Paddington 2 is a delightful film, I love the film and it's a good family film for the whole family. The story of the movie I found very deep and emotional. The storytelling is so beatiful in this film and that's because of the excellent script. This movie has a great screenplay. It has the perfect comedy laughs here and there, but it also has some fantastic emotional sad scenes that will bring a tear to your eyes. The Charachters in the movie are worth every peice of dialogue that they spoke in this film. When you see how truly they care for Paddington, it shows how much of a heart they have. Plus, the family is just sweet and since they care about others, you really care about them. Paddington is perfect in this movie, Paddington really represents us in the world. Being treated unfairly, being cheated, being sad, and just being separated from everybody else. I found that meaning very impactful and emotional.Visual Wise this movie is beatiful, it has some excellent camera work and beatiful cinematography. It's hard not to get taken into this beatiful world in the movie, and the joyfulness you get from it. The movie is so big and grand that it's hard not to get token off your feet by it. But since this movie is aimed for the little ones, there are some unfortunate problems with the movie. First of all, the movie is predictable at times. It's a new and refreshed plot, but I feel like I've seen it all before. I also thought some jokes missed, mainly just the cringy 8 year old jokes kinda just made me sit in anger rather then laughter. But I gotta say, this movie is paced so well. The story flows so great that you forget that this is by a script. I also thought the tone changed very smoothly. Whenever the tone was serious, a joke was never cracked, thats because the director knows what the tone is.Overall, I love this film. It's fun for the whole family, besides the 2 flaws I had...it's a fun beatiful emotional movie.

GRADE: B THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.IN BRIEF: Beary charming.JIM'S REVIEW: Paddington 2 is wonderful family fare. This sequel, solidly directed again by Paul King, still loses its way a bit in its contemporary updating, but it has enough visuals to continually delight. Spirited sight gags and slapstick moments are aplenty. The CGI is consistently strong and the voiceover work by Ben Whishaw is superb in its childlike wondrous vocal tones as our furry idealist. The animation, a mix of stop motion, computer generated, and hand-drawn renderings, is impressive. (Perhaps the film's highlight involved Paddington's imaginative journey in a pop-up book world that is stunningly conceived and executed. The cinematography by Erik Wilson flows with its aerial views and kinetic lensing. Gary Williamson's production direction, very reminiscent of Wes Anderson's The Great Budapest Hotel with its pink and teal palette, is cleverly detailed and its surreal dollhouse settings hide its rather standard plot-driven screenplay by Simon Farnaby and the director. Dario Marianelli's jaunty score adds a perfect touch of whimsy.The story involves Paddington's goal to buy an antique book for his aunt's 100th birthday. He decides to take various jobs to earn money with madcap antics in tow. However, he is not the only who wants this tome. Enter Hugh Grant as Phoenix Buchanan, a has-been actor and master of disguises, who plans to steal the valuable text and has Paddington framed for the crime. Villainy is foremost to make Paddington's travails remotely entertaining and Mr. Grant as the hammy thespian is a joy. His comic performance adds a certain vaudeville flavor and cartoonish conflict that works beautifully.The perfectly British cast is a gathering of today's film royalty with the likes of Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, and Tom Conti. Their roles are subservient to our animated hero and their characters lack any real sense of interest; they are only props in the plot mechanism that runs this machine. In fact, the Brown family and their neighbors somewhat slow down the action. One major exception in the human cast, beside the aforementioned Mr. Grant: Brendan Gleeson creates an extremely memorable character as hardened criminal, Knuckles McGinty, who develops a soft spot for Mr. Bear. Paddington 2 is deliciously charming. Simply said, it is as sweet and smooth as orange marmalade.