Paddington 2 2018
I was impressed with original Paddington movie which took a kind of cute story and gave it just the right notes of absurdity to make the comedy work better than it has any business doing otherwise. The sequel takes that and makes it work again. It can’t be easy to make something look so effortless, but it really makes the difference between just another movie for kids and a timeless classic. There maybe weren’t as many laugh out loud moments this time, but it is still enjoyable, and if anything the performances and material here make it a little more enjoyable. Last time Paddington was fighting for his life at the hands of an evil taxidermist and thankfully here the stakes are not as high or as twisted. Instead you get a lot of reliable, maybe even common, movie memes like the jail, a train chase, an investigation, and a cunning but egotistical villain who is a master of disguise. It all works well and they add to an already heavyweight cast with a few more overly talented British actors. Meanwhile, they have great lessons about acceptance of different people (using the bear as a stand-in for any type of immigrant) and treating people with kindness and respect. There are a few emotional moments as well, but it isn’t overdone. This is a very well done movie for children, but with enough of a sense of adult humor to appeal to grown-ups. I also enjoyed getting to see Dublin’s Kilmainham Jail fixed up and looking great (maybe a set), which I visited while I was in Ireland.
Written: 16 Dec 2018
Owned on: Blu-ray, DVD, Digital