Paddington 2

Samuel Joslin

Jonathan Brown

With aunt "Lucy" about to celebrate her 100th birthday, "Paddington" has been taking odd-jobs so he can earn enough money to get her a gift. He alights on a special pop-up book from an antique shop but when it gets stolen, he finds himself in court accused of it's theft! It's the evidence of local Thespian "Phoenix Buchanan" (Hugh Grant) that sends him to prison. He's not exactly an instant hit when he arrives - a red sock in the laundry turns all the uniforms pink! His life becomes even more perilous when he takes on the cook "Knuckles McGinty" (Brendan Gleeson) over his mediocre, tasteless food... Deep intakes of breath all round, but he is saved by the taste of his marmalade! Now he has a protector and must get out of jail and find out who framed him for this most heinous of crimes and hopefully still get the book in time for a birthday present. There are some great characterisations here as the bear's friends gather round to help him thwart the plans of the thief. Dames Eileen Atkins and Julie Walters both contribute well as do the assembled "Brown" family who never lose faith in their recent family addition. The writing is amiable and quickly paced and the animation is impressively natural - especially as the denouement between speeding trains brings things to a fun, almost music-hall, conclusion. This is just as good possibly better than the original (2014) and well worth a gander.