The cuddly, talkative Peruvian bear is back and even though I did not review or have not seen the first Paddington in theaters, I watched the first movie for the first time recently. (It is on Netflix.) I cannot believe I overlooked that first movie because it was such a charming and harmless movie. That first movie almost reaches the level of Toy Story material where it is so grand in its achievement that both kids and adults will enjoy this movie. I must admit even though some of the advertisement was quite too silly, I went in with an open mind and I came out thinking, if they make a third movie and makes it as good as the first two, this might be in contention for the most underrated trilogy ever made. However, we have the second one and this is a heartwarming children's movie that we rarely get at the movies, especially a very good children movie sequel.
Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) has been comfortable and has been popular around the Windsor Gardens as he is living quite comfortably with the Brown family. He writes to his Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) about his adventures and what has been going on with the family. Mary (Sally Hawkings) has been busy illustrating adventure books, Judy (Madeleine Harris) is now single and has starting working for a newspaper, Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) has adopted a new personality going by "J-Dog" and Henry (Hugh Bonnesville) has been passed up for a promotion and is having a mid-life crisis.
While going on with his day, Paddington arrives at the antique shop of Mr. Gruber (Jim Broadbent), wanting to find a present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday. He spots a pop-up book of London and thinks it is perfect because it will give Lucy a look of London. Because of the book being expensive, Paddington works in odd jobs to get the money for it. After getting the money from his jobs, Paddington tries to get the present and spots a thief breaking into the store, stealing the book. The police think that Paddington stole it and the latter is framed as he is really innocent. Paddington is sentenced to ten years in prison and the Brown family tries to investigate who actually broken in to the shop and stole the book.
If 2018 is going to supply movies like Paddington 2, it is going to be a very good year. I saw this and The Commuter and I asked myself, "This is January, right? The toilet bowl of the movie year?" It does not feel like it right now because this is another charming and adorable movie that will brighten up your spirits and actually persuade you to be in tears, especially in the climactic train sequence that is done real well. Granted, there is green-screen that was a bit distracting but it was a good time because that sequence is so much fun. The whole movie has a great "pay-it-forward" message about spreading kindness to people even if other people's souls and hearts do not inhabit the same kindness that Paddington has.
Again, here is another movie that does not hammer you with the message as the theme of kindness and also happiness is subtly integrated with the music, action and humor in the prison scenes. Sally Hawkins, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Bonnesville are great as always. However, the scene-stealers this time are Hugh Grant as the villain who portrays the renowned actor trying to get a reward and Brendan Gleeson as Knuckles, a prisoner working with Paddington making marmalade sandwiches for the inmates. They are both utterly hysterical.
You do not have a soul if you do not enjoy this movie for what it is. Again, lately, more of these types of non-animated family films have gone down and I missed those like the era where we had movies like Matilda, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, Dennis The Menace, The Sandlot, etc. We need more movies like this and Paddington 2 is a delightful movie full of wonder and joy in imaginative and tense situations that you will be happy in the end. It is surprisingly, a very good movie.
NOTE: Stay during the credits for some musical delight.
***1/2
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