WE REVIEW PADDINGTON 2

CERT PG, 95 MINUTES, IN CINEMAS 10 NOVEMBER

Starring: Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, voice of Ben Whishaw Director: Paul King

THE PLOT Filmmaker Paul King captured pure cinema magic with the first Paddington movie, which saw the marmalade-loving, accident-prone Peruvian bear win the hearts of his adoptive family the Browns, while also outwitting a nefarious villain. This sequel catches up with him, now a beloved fixture in his west London community. But when he desires to buy a rare, handmade pop-up book as a gift for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, he’s set on a collision course with vain, washed-up actor Phoenix Buchanan (Grant) that sees him sent down for a ten-year stretch in prison. The Browns set about trying to clear the young bear’s name, while Paddington himself finds an unlikely friend and mentor in gruff prison chef Knuckles Mcginty (Gleeson).

WHAT’S RIGHT WITH IT? Wittily scripted by King with co-writer Simon Farnaby

(Mindhorn), and beautifully and inventively imagined throughout, Paddington 2 has all of the humour, heart and satisfying story beats of the first film. And although it steps back from the menacing evil of Nicole Kidman’s murderous villain this time around, the peril is emotionally richer, as Paddington is wrenched from his loving family and cast into a bare prison cell. Meanwhile, Hugh Grant sends himself up brilliantly as the conceited luvvie who knows the pop-up book contains clues to a hidden fortune. WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT? Nothing we can think of.

VERDICT The original film earned a huge £38m at UK cinemas, as audiences responded warmly to the heartfelt embrace of a brave young immigrant. Subsequent political events have rather tarnished the film’s vision of a welcoming society, which makes Paddington 2 all the more to be celebrated. Step up for a gloriously funny, sweet, charming and thoroughly affecting affirmation of the world we’d like to live in, if only we could. ★★★★★ Charles Gant