Paddington 2 Movie Review

Paddington 2 (2017)

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Written by: Paul King and Simon Farnaby, Michael Bond ("Paddington Bear" created by), Mark Burton and Jon Croker and
Will Smith and Simon Stephenson (additional material)
Directed by: Paul King
Starring: Ben Whishaw(voice), Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Michael Gambon (voice), Imelda Staunton (voice), Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Richard Ayoade
Rated: PG
Watch the trailer

Plot
Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.

Verdict
It's a great kids movie that's fun for adults too. Naive Paddington manages to get into and out of quite a bit of trouble. His wholesomeness wins over everyone he encounters. That is except for Phoenix played by Hugh Grant. Grant must have had a lot of fun in his role as the antagonist. This is an endearing movie that will manage to win you over by the end.
Watch It.

Review
I didn't much care for Paddington, I couldn't get over how no one batted an eye when a walking, talking, dressed bear strolled around London. With a cartoon I could easier accept such a strange reality, but in that movie talking animals weren't even commonplace. The sequel got such rave review I had to check it out.

Ben Wishaw voices Paddington

While no one acknowledge the oddity of a talking bear in the sequel, the entire world is so ridiculous that it doesn't seem that far out of line.Paddington and his family are doing well, and Paddington has made a lot of friends in the neighborhood.

While looking for a birthday gift for his aunt, Paddington finds a pop up book, and I really like how the movie renders Paddington's imagination and the book as he imagines the gift. The only problem is that Paddington can't afford it so he attempts a few different jobs to disastrous but comical results.

Hugh Grant plays Phoenix Buchanan

Getting this book is Paddington's plight, and I knew Hugh Grant would be playing a larger role when he was first introduced. Phoenix (Hugh Grant) is a washed up actor that somehow knows this pop up book is the key to treasure. That part of the story is flimsy, but this movie is about how wholesome Paddington is. Through a series of follies, Paddington ends up in jail, but wins over the rough crowd through a marmalade sandwich.

This can certainly be cheesy, and nearly everything is ridiculous, but that's what makes this fun. It's difficult not to like Paddington. Hugh Grant plays a great antagonist that's often over the top and always self absorbed.

This movie is a lot of fun, and I get why it got such high praise.