Paddington 2 Review

Ever since Michael Bond’s first book, A Bear Called Paddington, published in 1958, the Peruvian bear has appeared in over one hundred and fifty books and a number of his own television programmes, from stop motion animation to two-dimensional. He even has his own shop in Paddington Station, as well as his own statue on Platform One. Now, he’s already into his second film on the silver-screen. But thankfully, it’s not in vain.

As one of the most beloved national treasures of British culture, and perhaps one of the most meaningful, if the polite, compassionate, marmalade-loving bear in a duffel coat has taught us anything over the decades, it’s to be nice to one another and to help our neighbour. And if ever a film was able to remind us that small gestures of kindness can make the biggest of differences, it’s Paddington 2.

A bear who has endured for half a century looks rather well...

Paddington continues to live with the Browns in London. However, he hopes that his Aunt Lucy – who still lives in the jungles of Peru – can one day come and visit the city, instead of just hearing about it in the letters he writes to her. One day, Paddington stumbles upon a spectacular pop-up book of London in an antique shop, which he knows Aunt Lucy would adore. The trouble is it’s terribly expensive, so Paddington decides to find himself a job.

Suddenly, the pop-up book is stolen by a vanishing thief – and Paddington is blamed! He soon finds himself in jail where all of his hopes of seeing the Browns and Aunt Lucy ever again vanish as quickly as the thief did. Meanwhile, the Browns investigate Phoenix Buchanan, a retired actor whom they believe stole the book and is using it as a map, in the hope to find a secret treasure somewhere in London.

Even in sticky situations, Paddington always brings a bit of colour

My wife and I went on a treasure hunt across London ourselves three years ago. And strangely, we were looking for Paddington Bear - or several versions - each one wonderfully-decorated by a different artist. This hunt was set up to coincide with the release of the first film, where we first saw the bear on the big-screen and in computer-animated form. Now, Paddington 2 boasts more colour than all of those statues combined.

Whishaw and Grant are splendid here as Paddington and Buchanan, respectively. Whishaw embodies the bear as flawlessly as the CG he’s made from, and not once does the portrayal of the character ever feel compromised by being made to feel “relevant” or “contemporary”. Meanwhile, Grant has the most fun since he danced around No. 10 in 2003's Love Actually, and is hilarious as the debonair hasbeen-actor-turned-master of disguise.

Even as a mastermind criminal, he'd still make a better Prime Minister than most

The rest of the (British) cast is rather impressive too, all of whom also make for an appropriate celebratory-feel given that this is one of the best home-grown feel-good films of recent years, with a message that’s more vital than it’s ever been. Perhaps, though, the idea of Paddington and his admirable values is just that. Or maybe he can serve as a benchmark for who we all aspire to be – even if he is just a bear. After all, it’s never too late to be better.

A delightful adventure with all the, ahem, bear essential ingredients, from heart-warming messages that will give even Winnie the Pooh a run for his honey, to train-top pursuits and prison break-outs, Paddington 2 doesn’t just wield more charm than that Disney Prince, it’s sweeter than, say, a marmalade sandwich.

Sian with the most accurately-coloured Paddington we could find

Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear, died in London on the 27^th June this year, at the age of 91. He leaves behind a legacy that, as it has done over the last fifty years, will forever live on in the hearts of adults and children alike.