A Masterpiece: PADDINGTON 2 Movie Review
Life would be easier, time would be breezier, if you loved your neighbor
Here in the U.S., many "family friendly” movies try to appeal directly to children, which is entirely understandable being that that’s the demographic that gravitates toward them most, but what ends up happening as a result is that these movies can be a bit of a chore to sit through for anyone who isn’t a kid themselves. There are exceptions of course- Pixar and some smaller studios like Laika make movies that tend to be accessible to kids while still being smart enough for adults to wholeheartedly enjoy- but as a general rule, children take precedence over adults when it comes to American films that are marketed as family affairs. As Paddington 2, coming from our neighbors across the pond, proves however, it’s possible for a movie to entertain people of all ages equally. And not only is it possible, it can be euphoric. Yes, that’s right- a movie about a talking CGI immigrant bear who adores marmalade, that is a sequel no less, is legitimately the Platonic ideal of family movies, filled with everything one could ever ask for: charming British humor, heart, whimsy, class, calypso music, and to tie it all together, emphasis on the value of family, human decency, and kindness. This movie is like the warmest hug from a loved one imaginable, and I feel like you’d have to be the most cynical person alive to not be able to get some enjoyment out of it.
Going into Paddington 2, I was expecting to like it given that I liked the first one, but I was not prepared for it to rush past all my expectations and leave them in the dust. The amazing thing, though, is that it isn’t terribly different from its predecessor. The first one was a fish-out-of-water story with Paddington bear coming to England, and while this one is basically a prison break movie, a lot of the narrative beats here replicate what came before. For example, in Paddington 1, Mr. Brown (the patriarch of the adopted family who Paddington lives with) has this great monologue towards the end where he articulates what he and his family have come to love about Paddington while refuting the antagonist’s prejudice against the bear, and there’s a similar moment with Mr. Brown in the climax of this movie (albeit with him speaking to a different character). Normally this would be a bad thing, but that I was aware of these mirrors to the first one and yet they never bothered me points to how well-executed they are. Paddington was already great, Paddington 2 is the perfection of that template.
One of the notable improvements made is that the other characters in the Brown family (Jonathan, Judy, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Bird) besides just Mr. Brown are given a lot more to do and each of them gets a chance to have their special moment at one point in the movie, taking endearing familial warmth to new heights. Coming to performances, each and every actor is game and they all elevate their given characters above cardboard cutouts or caricatures. Hugh Grant playing Hugh Grant in the villain role (you’ll know what I mean when you see it) with gusto and classical theatricality is a highlight, as is Brendan Gleeson in a memorable supporting turn. And Ben Whishaw strikes just the right balance of childlike wonder and sincerity as the voice of Paddington. All of this is to say nothing of the exemplary screenplay, which doesn’t contain any fat whatsoever. Every scene has a purpose, and even the couple of jokes that initially seem like throwaways all have glorious payoffs by the end. The visual gags and slapstick comedy also return from Paddington 1, but what astounds most is just how much detail and care was put into every frame of this movie. Paul King and company really outdid themselves this time around, as there were several visual sequences that made my jaw drop from how clever and brilliantly done they were, including a beautiful direct quotation of Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times. Comparisons to the films of Wes Anderson and in particular to The Grand Budapest Hotel are natural though ultimately reductive, as this movie has none of the melancholy characteristic of those works. From to start to finish (and what a start and what a finish they are!), Paddington 2 is nothing but a pure delight, its unparalleled generosity radiating as if it were an offering sent from the cinema heavens to remind us all that there is still good left in humanity. Seeing it alone in a completely empty theater by myself a week ago was the happiest I’ve felt in a long, long time, and I’m pretty sure I was either laughing, weeping, or had a huge smile on my face (or more than one of those at the same time) throughout the whole thing. But for as much as I enjoyed having that deeply personal experience, I would just as much want other people to get that same sense of joy and catharsis from the movie that I did. I aspire to be as much like Paddington as I can in real life, and if I ever were to have kids, Paddington 2 would be one of the very first movies I’d show them. Go see this film with your family or someone you are close to- we can all learn a lot from it, and this bear deserves all the love and exposure in the world. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars out of 5)