Paddington 2 is a live-action/animated comedy directed by Paul King and written by King and Simon Farnaby. It is based on the Paddington Bear books by Michael Bond in which young Paddington has many adventures after arriving in London from his birthplace in Peru. The movie is a sequel to 2014’s Paddington and was followed by 2024’s Paddington in Peru.
Buy Godzilla vs. Biollante (Criterion Collection) Blu-rayPaddington Bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) lives with his adopted family, the Browns, led by Henry and Mary Brown (Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins). Paddington still has an Aunt Lucy living back in Peru and who is about to celebrate her 100th birthday. Paddington wants to get Aunt Lucy something special and finds a beautiful pop-up book illustrating the London sights in a local shop, but the cost is prohibitive. Paddington decides to start his own window-washing business, save his money, and buy Aunt Lucy the pretty book.
Unfortunately, Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant), a local actor and master of disguises, believes the pop-up book contains secrets leading to a grand treasure. Because the book is being held specially for Paddington, Buchanan puts on a disguise, breaks into the shop, and steals the book for himself. Paddington witnesses these shenanigans and chases Buchanan through the streets of London with little luck catching the burglar. In fact, it goes so badly that Paddington is suspected of stealing the book himself and put into prison. That’s right: prison. And it isn’t Bear Prison, it is a regular old prison filled with angry men who aren’t keen on the new kid.
Paddington slowly wins over the prison cook, Knuckles McGinty (Brendan Gleason), through his perfectly made marmalade sandwiches. In the outside world, the Brown family have become a group of detectives hot on the trail of Phoenix Buchanan. There is a daring prison escape, a fabulous train chase, betrayals and reversals, and all the cuteness one expects from the world of Paddington Bear.
The ensemble cast sparkles, but Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleason are the true gems in this sequel. Grant continues to amaze in silly roles (Wonka) and his charm is magnificent as the antagonist who wants Paddington’s prized pop-up book. Brendan Gleason’s humor is infectious as the tyrant of the prison kitchen who falls in love with marmalade sandwiches and, ultimately, Paddington, too.
The bonus features are well produced and fun and include a recipe for your own marmalade sandwich.
Bonus Features:
- Audio Commentary by Director/Co-writer Paul King
- Paddington: The Bear Truth
- How to Make a Marmalade Sandwich
- Music Video with Phoenix Buchanan
- The Magical Mystery of Paddington’s Pop-up Book
- The Browns and Paddington: A Special Bond
- Knuckles: A Fistful of Marmalade
- The (Once) Famous Faces of Phoenix Buchanan
