Paddington 2 Parent Guide

Paddington Bear returns to the big screen in this sequel, which is even more enjoyable than his charming first adventure. As this film opens, we see the lovable marmalade-eater (again voiced by Ben Whishaw) is now right at home in Britain with Mr. and Mrs. Brown (Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins), and their children Judy and Johnathan (Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin).

Still, the bear’s thoughts often turn to his Aunt Lucy (voice of Imelda Staunton) back in his childhood home—Darkest Peru. With her 100th birthday just a few weeks away, Paddington wants to do something special for this motherly caregiver, who sacrificed her own dreams of travel while tending him as a young cub. And he finds the perfect gift in Mr. Gruber’s (Jim Broadbent) Antique Shop: A pop-up book featuring London’s famous landmarks.

Unfortunately, the unique book is rather expensive. Not dissuaded, Paddington undertakes a series of odd jobs to earn the cash needed to buy the present. (His endeavors provide plenty of opportunities for slapstick antics.) Yet before his coin jar is full, a scoundrel breaks into the store and steals the rarity. Paddington’s attempt to catch the thief instead have him mistaken as the criminal. Arrested in handcuffs, charged and tried in court, the defenseless bear ends up behind bars.

The loyal Brown family, and their trusty housekeeper Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters), are sure he has been falsely accused. They scour the town looking for the real culprit, with some help from their mostly-sympathetic neighbors. Meanwhile, Paddington tries to make the best of his bad situation by befriending the tough inmates (Brendan Gleeson, Jamie Demetriou, Noah Taylor) and putting his gentle touch on the prison.

Although this movie was inspired by a children’s book series, there is nothing juvenile about its production values. The CGI (computer generated images) used to create the lead character are superb, the cast features top-rated actors (Hugh Grant playing a vainglorious has-been actor is especially fun), the artistry of the sets is amazing, and there are sequences of 2D animation that pay homage to the 1970s TV series which was also based on Michael Bond’s work. The scriptwriting is smart as well, working small details into the bigger plot in clever and humorous ways.

That said, the story may be a bit too emotional or frightening for the youngest of cubs, especially when they see the loneliness of a locked-up Paddington or watch his often-perilous plight. Yet older children and teens will likely be fine with these depictions, even though a murder is involved, because the violence is implied more than shown. Even adults are sure to be amused in the engaging scavenger hunt that unfolds. With messages of love and looking for the best in people, Paddington 2 is as sweet and delicious as marmalade.

About author

Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.