Paddington 2 is for those who liked Paddington 1. I saw Paddington on DVD back when my local Blockbuster was still open. It’s amazing what a difference three years will make. I had missed it at the movies-the trailer didn’t get me enthused. I had some dim fond memories from childhood but this CGI bear would not do. He looked too fake and I could care less if he used toothbrushes in his ears. All the comedic set-ups seemed tired and silly. The sequel’s trailer is a prime example. Paddington has a pair of clippers and there’s a stuffy old British man waiting for his haircut in the local barber where Paddington works. How is that going to possibly end I wonder? There’s a stupid inevitability to such premises that I have no interest in. Although I will admit during said scene the other day I heard children laughing in the theatre and suddenly such things did seem funny.
Three years ago I got the DVD from my Blockbuster, probably Karen got it truth be told, and we watched it and I smiled. Maybe I rarely laughed out loud but I smiled. I smiled the kind of smile you only smile when you’ve been absolutely charmed and I was charmed by that film and more importantly by that little Peruvian bear. He always looks CGI but there’s fantastic design work from the animators to make you fall in love with this bear backed up by Ben Whishaw’s voice work and spirit of Michael Bond’s books. Paddington is always polite, always has his heart in the right place and always tries his best and believes in the better nature of people unless they invoke a good hard stare. Paddington exists in a world of fiction too where hardened criminals can make gardens once they’re shown a little kindness. These qualities are essential to what makes the character and these current films so wonderful to watch.
Getting these things right were crucial and now everything else follows. Things like a stellar British cast where even the normal characters have a whiff of the oddball about them, the villains are played broadly but avoid cutting a slice of ham and the production values are gorgeous. Usually set bound but clean, colourful and yet homely. When foreigners think of living in London they think of a street like the one Paddington lives on. I was charmed by the first and I have been charmed by the second one even more. Perhaps because Hugh Grant as a villain seemed like a funnier character than Nicole Kidman’s scary one in the previous film.
More likely it was the running theme of Paddington wanting to be reunited with family. My sister as you may recall lives just outside of London and she has come back a few times to see us including for my wedding. There is a part of me that would very much like to go see her in London one day soon but I don’t believe that is very likely and my parents are reaching an age where it is unlikely they will make such trips. I was charmed by Paddington throughout but at the end I felt a little betrayed. The movie ended abruptly on a moving scene and the lights in the cinema immediately went up revealing the audience as a whole with tears running down our cheeks. This is a great family movie.
-Lloyd Marken
Back to the Drawing Board Productions 
Whether 1 or 2, they’re not for me, Lloyd. I remember the animated series with some affection, and the style of these films doesn’t grab me at all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNZ3i9utHl4
Best wishes, Pete.
I’m quite fond of the older series which I saw as a kid. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. I too didn’t feel CGI was a good fit, (I don’t think they come across good in the trailers) but well it turned out I was charmed. But I wasn’t forced into seeing it and I think that’s the best way to approach these things. Karen does get across my vision that I enjoy and would’ve missed out on without her there.
Your link has also pointed out to me that the animation of the pop up book in the sequel is a wonderful homage to the style of the animation from the original series.
I like the fun and laughter one finds in children’s animated films, especially ones like this! I like that hardly anyone gets hurt nor dies, like in Disney films for kids. My grandkids like the accent and sometimes ask me to rewind the DVD to get the meaning. Have a wonderful, warm and hopefully not a “blast of freezing rain” like we expect in Ohio. . . 🙂
Stay safe, I am roasting here in hot humid Brisbane and am smiling at the impending thunderstorm for its breeze and hopefully cooler temperatures.
I am glad you are enjoying Paddington with your grandkids.
They have enjoyed the television version and first one out on DVD. No kids this weekend, with it being so cold. I did wander outside to take some beautiful photos of Winter’s handiwork. ❄☄
Great review. Interesting how universally loved this movie is! Two points: first, this was a Weinstein release in the US until the recent Harvey debacle, so WB is getting a big hit on a “fire sale” – and second, Hugh Grant is getting great reviews like this one you offered – I posted a story recently about an in-depth conversation the Actor had about his career – he came across as funny and self-deprecating – https://johnrieber.com/2017/12/10/hugh-grant-speaks-the-actors-thoughts-on-meryl-streep-bridget-jones-divine-brown/
I know I read and enjoyed it quite a bit. Thank you for enjoying my review and for adding a great behind the scenes point.
This is great to hear. The first film was such a surprising treat. My family and I are planning on a family outing to see this one. Can’t wait.
I hope you and your family enjoy Keith.
I don’t expect a lot from it but it does have a pretty great cast and I totally relate to what you said about the smile – sometimes you don’t laugh, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t quite pleased.
Thank you Jay, quite true. 🙂