Paddington 2 (2017)

 

Paddington Bear, having settled with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens, has become a popular figure in the local community.  He's particularly loved for his uncanny ability to offer people the emotional support they need in the way they need to receive it.

When he discovers a unique pop-up book of London in Samuel Gruber's antique shop, Paddington resolves to buy it for his aunt Lucy's 100th birthday.  Before he can do so, however, Gruber's shop is burgled and the book is stolen. Paddington gives chase, but the thief escapes, and Paddington is framed. 

Despite being sent to the Big House for a crime he did not commit, Paddington continues to work his special brand of interpersonal magic, soon becoming a favourite of the prison staff and inmates alike.  Meanwhile, the Browns are working to find proof of Paddington's innocence, but their efforts to do so mean they miss their visiting time with him.  Believing himself forgotten, Paddington agrees to participate in an escape attempt.  Will this precipitous decision leave him a lifelong fugitive, or will it somehow serendipitously lead to the revelation of the real villain?  Well, I think you already know the answer to that: this movie is about the journey, not the destination.

The original Paddington was one of the nicest surprises of my 2022 watch list: a wonderfully warm-hearted, enjoyable, smart little movie that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I'd love to be able to say that this sequel matches its predecessor, but alas it does not quite manage that feat.  To be fair though, that would be a very high bar to clear.

Instead, Paddington 2 slots solidly into 'pretty good' territory.  It's decent entertainment throughout, and I can certainly see how it is trying to replicate the heart and the cleverness of the first.  Particularly the latter: there are some obvious echoes of the same 'recurring side-gags turn out to have plot relevance' thing the original did so well.  Unfortunately, it doesn't quite manage the same deftness or pay-off.  It's enjoyable, but not excellent.

I think the key thing holding back the film is the plot.  It's very busy, and it introduces a blizzard of new characters that, while all likeable individually, pull a lot of the focus away from the bear himself.  The Brown family are also somewhat victims of this phenomenon.  While they do get a fair amount of screen time, they're separated from Paddington for much of the run time.  Given how much of their growth as characters and the emotional resonance of the first film came from their developing relationship with their unexpected house guest, I definitely felt this left an absence in the film.

All that said, the movie is still pretty good.  And Hugh Grant is obviously having a great time in his role as the film's villain.  Between this and the recent Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, it seems that he's carving out a new niche for his career as smarmy, superficially charming but morally bankrupt chancers.  And hey, more power to him: he's pretty good at it!