Another Instant Family Classic
One of my very favorite films of the last few years is Paul King’s Paddington. Despite its January release date (usually reserved for Oscar wide-releases and pure dreck), the film turned out to be incredibly well crafted and overwhelmingly charming. I can’t claim much familiarity with the Paddington Bear brand beyond the plush toy, but as I understand it, the film perfectly captured author Michael Bond’s character, and is not the cheap, sellout slapstick comedy so many classic children’s properties can become in the move from page to screen. Paddington 2, once again directed by King, is the rare comedy sequel that lives up to its predecessor and manages to tell a fresh new story for its characters.
Having settled into life with his adopted family the Browns, Paddington (voice of Ben Whishaw) decides he wants to buy an antique popup book of London to send to his Aunt Lucy (voice of Imelda Staunton) for her 100th birthday. A series of misadventures leaves Paddington framed for stealing the book, landing him in prison alongside hardened chef and inmate Nuckles McGinty, played by an excellent Brendan Gleeson (and yes, that’s how Nuckles spells his name). Meanwhile, the Browns search for the true thief, the washed up ham of an actor Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant).
As was the case in the first Paddington, where the baddie was Nicole Kidman’s icy taxidermist, there’s no great mystery as to who the villain is, so all the fun is in seeing a talented actor dial up their cartoonish abilities without going too far. Kidman was perfect for her role, and Grant is an even better fit for his, as he gets to poke fun at himself and play with a variety of disguises and accents. Gleeson’s turn as Nuckles is a similarly strong match of actor and character, and he pitches his performance just right, so that even as Paddington manages to melt his heart, it’s never lost that he’s still a tough guy looking out for himself.
The returning cast members from the first film are all still in fine form. Hugh Bonneville is lovably stodgy as Mr. Brown; Sally Hawkins is caring and adventurous as Mrs. Brown; Julie Walters is tough and wise as Mrs. Bird; and Samuel Joslin and Madeleine Harris are curious and intelligent as the Brown children. Peter Capaldi also returns as the curmudgeonly out of touch Mr. Curry, likely the only person on the Browns’ block to vote for Brexit (more on that in a bit), and Jim Broadbent appears as the jolly shop owner, Mr. Gruber. Of course, the real star is Paddington, and Ben Whishaw once again gives a tremendously sincere vocal performance that walks the fine line between the bear’s serious nature and his naïveté. The animation is also top notch yet again, never more so than when Paddington chooses to dispel someone’s rudeness with one of his patented hard stares, and the contempt in his eyes is 100% real.
If I have one complaint about this film it’s that I wish we had more of the Browns, though their presence here never feels like an afterthought. To make their relationship with Paddington the center of this film would risk simply rehashing the first one, and there’s no need to have them doubt his trustworthiness yet again. What we do get with the family is good, and certainly Paddington’s antics at the prison are terrific fun, so if my biggest issue is that the film left me wanting more of a good thing, I’d say that’s the mark of a pretty darned good movie.
One element this sequel does carry forward is the first film’s theme of London as a welcoming, diverse haven for the people of the world. Michael Bond said that Paddington’s own origin—found at Paddington Station by the Browns with a tag reading “Please look after this bear. Thank you.”—was inspired by his memories of tagged children being evacuated by train from London during World War II. Paul King smartly made that a central part of the first film, with Paddington’s status as an immigrant from “Darkest Peru” as the reason some members of the community, Mr. Curry in particular, were uncomfortable with him. He’s also a bear, so there's plenty of threatening “otherness” in that, while some folks, like the Browns, aren’t really phased by a talking bear. Paddington was made long before the Brexit vote took place, though Paddington 2 gets its chance to comment on anti-immigrant sentiments when Mr. Curry says “I told you so” the day Paddington is brought home in handcuffs, no matter if he could be innocent. He was always an outsider, and it was always going to end this way, Mr. Curry assures the neighbors. The film shows us why he’s so wrong.
Paddington 2 is the story of an outsider who’s not only found his place in the community, but enriched and contributed to it. To quote Mr. Brown, “Paddington looks for the good in all of us and somehow, he finds it!” That theme, that the kindness of others—especially from those who seemingly don’t belong—can emanate throughout a community is really what makes Paddington 2 the sweet, successful film that it is. Add to that King’s wonderful flair for visual gags, some seeming as though they’d be at home in a Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton film (including a specific nod to Modern Times), and you’ve got a film that rivals the very best family entertainment. It’s sly, earnest, and most impressively smart. No one in this movie gets overtly political, but in the spirit of its open-hearted protagonist, the subtext is there: everyone’s welcome, even a bear.