Paddington 2 • The Next Reel

“Nobody criticizes my food, nobody squirts condiments on my apron, and nobody bonks me on the head with a baguette!”

Let’s talk about Paddington 2!

Paddington 2 had become the best-reviewed film on Rotten Tomatoes, unseating Citizen Kane, until a lone critic lobbed a negative review at it, bringing it down a peg. But what does that say about this film? Is it really one of the greatest films ever made? Or does it speak more to Paddington’s ability to find the best in people and bring the best out of them – including film critics? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Paddington series with Paul King’s follow-up to his 2014 film with 2017’s Paddington 2. 

Is there anything wrong with Paddington 2?

You’ll be hard-pressed to find us seeing anything wrong with this film. Even the juvenile humor involving Paddington using electric toothbrushes to clean his ears, nose, and teeth – in that order – doesn’t affect us negatively. The story’s so sweet and the character of Paddington really does work his magic on us. He’s a pure delight. That’s as much a tribute to writer/director King as it is to the CG artists behind his creation as it is to Ben Wishaw’s spot-on voice performance. 

The rest of the cast is stellar as well, though it’s hard to ignore the pure brilliance of Hugh Grant as the villainous Phoenix Buchanan. He clearly relishes the role and delivers a brilliant and unforgettable performance. 

So tune in as we break this film down and celebrate this adorable little bear from Peru. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

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