Paddington 2: The Most Delightful Film Ever Made

Paddington 2 is one of the best films of all time and a significant contribution to the world of cinema. It is a perfect film with virtually no flaws, filled with constant joy and laughs for its entire 104 minutes.

I’m 100% serious. This film is up there with The Godfather and The Dark Knight. The first Paddington film is also great, but this is in a different league. It’s The Empire Strikes Back to A New Hope. Now, part of my love for this film may stem from the fact that I watched it after just spending two weeks in London. I felt like Paddington exploring the city for the first time and was still high off of the incredible experience. To give credit to the film though, it’s not just a fun family film. There is a truly warm, comforting atmosphere to this film. It is a perfect combination of a brilliant script, a nice, heartwarming touch by director Paul King, and delightful performances from the entire cast, especially Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington and Hugh Grant as the film’s villain, Phoenix Buchanan. Everyone has incredible comedic timing and excel in a few genuinely dramatic moments (don’t get me started on that underwater scene).

The plot is fairly simple: Paddington, now living happily with the Brown family, works various odd jobs around his neighborhood to save up for a pop-up book as a gift for his Aunt Lucy’s birthday. The book, however, is stolen by actor Phoenix Buchanan, who believes that it holds the key to a great secret. I don’t want to get into heavy spoilers, but a decent portion of this film is set in a prison and it may just be the best part of the film. Brendan Gleeson plays an intimidating but lovable prison chef named “Knuckles” in what is possibly one of my favorite roles from the talented actor.

I have heard many say that this film feels like a warm hug. I would say it also feels like the sun coming out on a dark day. It is a film that can make you feel better and laugh even after a bad day. It may be marketed more towards younger audiences, but everyone from each age group can get something meaningful from this film. Paddington is such an endearing and sweet character whose message is important in today’s society. Paddington believes in the goodness of others and strives to find a good part of every person’s soul. He’s basically a small, fuzzy version of Superman. The film reflects the optimistic attitude of the young bear. Director Paul King nicely balances slapstick comedy with pure heart, never losing sight of the hopeful message of the film.

It doesn’t hurt that the film is also hilarious. The script is extremely funny and filled with nice setups for jokes that pay off later. It isn’t afraid to take on some silly gags as well. The barbershop scene may come off as a cringey bit in a typical kids movie, but here it plays off well because of Paddington’s pure likability. Many of the laugh-out-loud moments come from Hugh Grant’s hilarious performance. He plays a comically over the top villain with such charisma and glee that it’s hard not to love his character.

The film also just looks great and has a charming, bright, and colorful pallet. Cinematographer Erik Wilson really helps the film’s visuals pop. King also brings an almost Wes Anderson like charm to the film. The whole production seems to have been working with such care and attention to detail.

I hope this film has the same legacy as other well-received family films. Its message is timeless and the warmth it exudes is comforting and infectious.

I urge you to seek out Paddington 2 if you haven’t already. It is a warm, funny film that is needed in times like this.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @TheCinemaSpot and on Instagram @thecinemaspot_