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PADDINGTON 2
Pat yourself on the back, Paul King, you struck golden marmelade by the masses (or by the molasses), which sticks to heart and soul no matter how hard you resist. And why should you? In many ways, that is the only potential flaw that sticks out in this film - it's sugary sweet and a family movie with a capital F. The film itself, though, is very far from an F...
I genuinely can't fault the film for its almost uncriticizable confidence in material and style and the cunningly captivating charm and self awareness, which just oozes on without end in this superior sequel. I enjoyed the first film, but I feel like this bear adventure is less banal and takes more time to explore its potential. 'Paddington' was a cascade of comedic outcomes for our little hat-bearing bear, but it also felt a lot like the easy way out. In the sequel Paddington is already settled in well with the world and the people around him, which makes for a nice stepping stone to more elaborate character development - and especially for the family he lives with, who gets a lot of screen time, which was very welcomed.
The story is filled with set-ups and pay-offs, the visuals are wonderfully wacky but well executed and the feeling is so fuzzy it's almost unbearable. The actors and actresses all deliver what is needed and wanted of them and some even a bit more than that. Let's talk about Hugh Grant for a second. I think this is the role he was born to play, ladies and gentlemen. What a show he puts on, but perfectly balanced between an actor proving his craftsmanship and an actor jumping ship. I loved it. The returning cast are no cast aways either, and as I said, gets even more to do here. Brendan Gleeson is awesome as well and this second time around the marmelade jar is anything but jarring but rather cheering and warmer than a bearhug.
I might have shed a little tear at the end to be honest. 'Paddington' is a ton of fun and 'Paddington 2' is too... perhaps even more so.
Pat yourself on the back, Paul King, you struck golden marmelade by the masses (or by the molasses), which sticks to heart and soul no matter how hard you resist. And why should you? In many ways, that is the only potential flaw that sticks out in this film - it's sugary sweet and a family movie with a capital F. The film itself, though, is very far from an F...
I genuinely can't fault the film for its almost uncriticizable confidence in material and style and the cunningly captivating charm and self awareness, which just oozes on without end in this superior sequel. I enjoyed the first film, but I feel like this bear adventure is less banal and takes more time to explore its potential. 'Paddington' was a cascade of comedic outcomes for our little hat-bearing bear, but it also felt a lot like the easy way out. In the sequel Paddington is already settled in well with the world and the people around him, which makes for a nice stepping stone to more elaborate character development - and especially for the family he lives with, who gets a lot of screen time, which was very welcomed.
The story is filled with set-ups and pay-offs, the visuals are wonderfully wacky but well executed and the feeling is so fuzzy it's almost unbearable. The actors and actresses all deliver what is needed and wanted of them and some even a bit more than that. Let's talk about Hugh Grant for a second. I think this is the role he was born to play, ladies and gentlemen. What a show he puts on, but perfectly balanced between an actor proving his craftsmanship and an actor jumping ship. I loved it. The returning cast are no cast aways either, and as I said, gets even more to do here. Brendan Gleeson is awesome as well and this second time around the marmelade jar is anything but jarring but rather cheering and warmer than a bearhug.
I might have shed a little tear at the end to be honest. 'Paddington' is a ton of fun and 'Paddington 2' is too... perhaps even more so.