Paddington 2

(Warning: contains spoilers for Paddington 2)

I'll be honest, I didn't intend to go and see this.  A friend recommended it and I promised to go and see it before we next met up, so it was a sense of duty more than anything else that made me go.  I don't know why this was the case - Paddington (2014) was a great film and I really enjoyed it.  I guess I was excited to get on with the "Oscars films", and also keen not to be disappointed by a rubbish sequel trying to capitalise on the success of the first film.

Does marmalade count as one of your 5 a day?

Well, what a surprise.  Paddington 2 is that rare gem - a sequel that is better than the original.  Written by Paul King and Simon Farnaby (whose previous works include The Mighty Boosh and Bunny and the Bull) it doesn't seem like a natural progression for either to be working in the family friendly genre.  Paul King directed and co-wrote the first film so there is some link, but Simon Farnaby's only film-writing credit (as far as I can tell) is Mindhorn.  But here we are.

The film opens with the story of how Paddington came to be in the care of Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) and Uncle Pastuzo (Michael Gambon), and cuts to his life with the Browns in London.  Paddington is now an integral part of the community, and is trying to save up enough money to get a pop-up book of London for Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday.  When the book is stolen, Paddington is wrongfully convicted and jailed for the theft.  Mar-maladies ensue.

Hardened criminal gang

Where Paddington had provided an allegory for the benefits that immigrants can provide to their communities, Paddington 2 expounds on this a little but also just goes all out to emphasise how one little person doing lots of little kind things can change and shape a community for the better.  From helping a friend study for a test, to cleaning someone's windows to let the sunshine in, Paddington throws positivity in the world with no ulterior motives other than helping people be happy.  On a slightly different bent, however, it also has a surprising amount to say about prison reform.  Who knew?

Ben Wishaw returns to voice the eponymous bear, and is rejoined by the cast from the original film.  As well as Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon, there is also a plethora of British actors lining up for bit parts - Richard Ayeoade, Meera Syal, Peter Capaldi, Ben Miller, Jessica Hynes (amongst others) all pop up momentarily, but their cameos are warmly and richly written and a lot is quickly derived from very brief scenes.  Brendan Gleeson is also in surprisingly family friendly territory as Knuckles McGinty, the hardened criminal in charge of the kitchens who becomes Paddington's boss.  However, the absolute scene stealer is Hugh Grant as Phoenix Buchanan - a faded "luvvy" actor who is now famous for dog food adverts.  Grant chews up all the scenery possible as he talks to the mannequins wearing his old costumes (I'm sure I didn't catch all the film references - that's one for the film buffs), devises dastardly schemes, and dons disguises to achieve his goals (He makes a surprisingly good nun).

You see?

The film looks beautiful.  It's set in modern-day London, but there is a timelessness to that London.  There are an absence of mobile phones and computers.  The pop-up book that the plot hangs off is a nice nod to the artwork from the 1989 Paddington TV series.

This book is beautiful

But for me, one of the reasons that the film works so well is because it is so tightly plotted.  Every joke is well seeded in advance.  From Mr Brown's newfound interest in yoga, to Mrs Bird's fury that Phoenix never remembers her name, each payoff lands brilliantly because of its set up.  None of the jokes feel forced or laboured.  I can't remember the film I last laughed as much at.  It also means that the emotional beats pack more of a punch, because the audience knows exactly what is at stake.  This film is pretty much pawfect (groan).  Watch it, and then watch it again.

And remember that kindness is what makes the world a little more bear-able (last one, I'm done, I promise).

Additional thoughts, comments and questions:

• I wasn't entirely convinced by Jonathan Brown's attempts to hide his love of steam trains in an attempt to be cool.  That seemed a little weak and too easily thrown away.
  
• Sadly, Michael Bond - creator of Paddington - died on the day that principal photography on the film finished.  Sharp eyes will have spotted him in the first Paddington film.  Paddington 2 is dedicated to him.
  
• Stay for the post-credit scenes.  It's worth it.