by Joe Hammerschmidt
Well, a new moviegoing year has begun, and with my own personal diary in mind, a new record’s been reached in discovering the first enjoyable home-run of 2018. Only six days into the year (when I had viewed this film), and this writer experienced sufficient cuteness, an overwhelming amount of whimsy, and multiple barrels of laughs. The only possible answer: Britain’s unique sensibility with humor. They still have a leg up on delivering a comedy that can appeal to all four quadrants; and when the source material is author Michael Bond’s heralded treasure of so many UK schoolkids over four or so generations, of course, whoever’s running the show will ensure they don’t mess it up. Paddington 2 follows up on a loyal cinematic reimagining that rather fell under-the-radar three years ago, even with grossing $250+ million worldwide. Said predecessor was filled with a niche charm, a top-notch cast passionate toward the project, and storybook-like visuals of London that couldn’t possibly be matched by a similar genre-henry film. The same can be true second time around, albeit with a new, far more eccentric baddie afoot, which only makes the effort stand out just a little more.
Director Paul King (The Mighty Boosh), co-writing with Simon Farnaby (Yonderland), established the same old London from the original, only with enough time having passed for the positive-thinking titular bear (voice of Ben Whishaw) to turn into a Kensington street fixture, a regular friend amid all the neighbors, save for the bitter Mr. Curry (Peter Capaldi). The animal, originally a native of “Darkest Peru”, had managed to earn the trust of the community, which appears to culminate in the eventual arrival of his adopted Aunt Lucy’s (Imelda Staunton) 100th birthday. Knowing he had to leave her behind in the first film, it’s clear she had never seen London yet. The best thing he could do would be sending her an antique picture book capturing the lyrical charm of the city, pitting dear Paddington against the job circuit to raise the cash for that gift.
Meanwhile a new next-door neighbor for Paddington and the Browns may seek to threaten his status in town. Struggling actor Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant, at his most eccentric), a new insurance client for the in-denial-about-his-age Mr. Brown (Hugh Bonneville), is a little too down-on-his-luck. Once a reliable Globe Theatre type, reduced now to dog food commercials, he’s itching for a lucky break which, coincidentally, falls with that pop-up book. As cleverly as one might imagine, Phoenix breaks in, nabs the book, and effectively frames Paddington for the theft, pitting him with a lengthy sentence in an old Victorian-style prison. The only catch here is the villain doesn’t earn the rightful third-act surprise antagonist charade per Nicole Kidman’s character in the original. I suppose, if the trade-off is seeing Grant ramping up the wacky, in a consistent form throughout his own secretive treasure hunt, culminating a rather epic song-and-dance routine somewhere in that third act (I will not say where)? With that intent in mind, I can be a little forgiving.
Much of the film revolves around Paddington coping with wrongful imprisonment, and the Browns, the dad, Mrs. Brown (Shape of Water darling Sally Hawkins), now-teens Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), and housekeeper Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters) attempting to uncover the actual culprit. While much of their neighborhood is rather cold-shouldered to the ursine they once had come to trust, Paddington’s infectious positivity, to no surprise, leaves an impact on his new neighbors, led by gruff chef with perfect name Knuckles McGinty, aka Brendan Gleeson, being a subtle, loveable hard*** with the biggest heart of gold. Feel free to consider him a duality of grit and sugary, neither of the two bleeding over.
The inherent theme throughout, as much as with the predecessor, falls back on just never giving up on family, with a reminder it can always grow the closer-knit they are. Director King has easily emphasized this in achieving to bring back most of the team that made the first adventure a worthwhile trip (Dario Marianelli replaces Nick Urata as score composer, with no large shift in tone), notably cinematographer Erik Wilson’s (Masterminds) careful eye of capturing London’s natural beauty, and making it shimmer/shine; and the costuming genius of Lindy Hemming (Wonder Woman), blending retro and modern-chic too easily.
What shows the most consistency is Whishaw’s performance in the lead role. What the 37-year-old accomplishes may be further belief Colin Firth may easily have disconnected the character, had he stayed involved; Whishaw is youthful, yet staying intently mature, striving for no less than engrossing his every emotion toward the character, nearly sharing the same personality DNA. Squaring him up against the one-of-a-kind work by Grant, and it all just fits like it was always meant to be.
To sum it up, Paddington 2 is the first must-see film of 2018, if the top-notch cast, enticing visuals, and affirming family messages are an indicator. Leave it to the Brits to accomplish a sequel that wants nothing more than to have a great time in the world it’s built, and the story it wants to tell. That will easily extend to the whole family, for the funny, and the cute, the whimsical and adorable, and whatever’s lying in between. And one last time, may I not understate just how much Mr. Grant clearly had the most fun. (A-)
“Paddington 2” opens in most area theaters Friday; rated PG for some action and mild rude humor; 103 minutes.
