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by Sandra Olmsted

Although most sequels have a reputation of being unbearably bad, the fun, wit, good-heartedness, and excitement in writer-director Paul King’s Paddington 2 equals, if not outshines, that of the first film. After revisiting and expanding on Paddington’s origin story in “darkest Peru,” the film stowaway to London where Paddington (voice of Ben Whishaw) lives happily with his human family, the Browns on Windsor Crescent, a fictional street. Except for Mr. Curry (Peter Capaldi), the hostile, self-appointed neighborhood watch, Paddington is now the darling of the neighborhood because he always finds “the good in everyone.”

When Mr. Gruber (Jim Broadbent), an immigrant antique dealer, shows Paddington a “popping book” of London, Paddington decides its pop-up images of London landmarks will be as close to visiting London as his beloved Aunt Lucy (voice of Imelda Staunton) will ever get. To earn the money for the expensive, one-of-a-kind book, Paddington takes a number of jobs, such as window washer and barber’s assistant, which result in slapstick disasters, including Judge Gerald Biggleswade (Tom Conti) getting an unfortunate haircut. King plays the absurdist silliness for all it is worth.

Created by a woman who owned a famed, steampunk carnival, the antique book contains a treasure map to her stashed jewels, at least according to new Windsor Crescent resident Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant). Buchanan, an aging actor who has been reduced to dog food commercials, dreams of putting on a one-man, comeback show with the treasure and will stop at nothing to get the book. When Paddington catches the disguised Buchanan burglarizing Gruber’s shop and give chase, Paddington ends up before Judge Biggleswade accused of the theft and take the fall for Buchanan’s crime.

   Knowing that Paddington would never steal the book, Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins) leads her husband Henry (Hugh Bonneville), daughter Judy (Madeleine Harris), son Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), and housekeeper Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters) in investigating strange occurrences at the same London landmarks as in the book. Meanwhile, Paddington soon discovers there are no bedtime stories or marmalade in prison, just terrible food, a really mean cook named Nuckles McGinty (Brendan Gleeson), and tough guys who threaten little bears. Can the little bear with the big heart and good manners overcome his misfortune?

King’s film will charm the kids and kids at heart with innocence, surprising twists, and sly wit, especially when setting up farcical gags and slapstick action sequence. Paddington also presents a message of tolerance for immigrants like himself, and the message resonates in Europe as well as America. The preeminent cast, which includes many more exceptional actors and actresses than can be mentioned, is a joy to watch as they embrace making their roles as fun to play as to watch. Grant’s role as an actor allows him to spoof himself with tongue-in-cheek inside jokes that most adults will get.

   King, who also directed the first film, and co-writer Simon Farnaby marvelously update Michael Bond’s series of “Paddington” books without loosing any of their delightfulness and can-do attitude. Bond, who passed away in June 2017, gets a dedication in the credits, and for a floorshow featuring Grant, one should stay for those credits. The special effects are well done, especially production designer Gary Williamson’s inspired combining of the pop-up book’s one-dimensional landmarks with the three-dimensional special effects used to create Paddington and his dear Aunt Lucy.

   Paddington 2, with its child-like innocence and adult sophistication, will delight the entire family, and the imaginative, visual jokes running through the film will give the audience new pleasures with each viewing. Paddington 2 is rated PG for some action and mild rude humor and runs 103 minutes. Paddington, the first film, is available on Netflix, and Paddington 2, a Warner Bros. release, opens in theaters for early shows on Thursday although the official open is Friday, January 12.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Paddington (voice of Ben Whishaw) with his new family, the Browns (Hugh Bonneville, Samuel Joslin, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris), in “Paddington 2.”

Paddington (voice of Ben Whishaw) and Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant) share the stage at the steam circus in “Paddington 2.”

Paddington (voice of Ben Whishaw) and his beloved Aunt Lucy (voice of Imelda Staunton) in the “Paddington 2” scene created by Gary Williamson’s inspired special effects.

Paddington (voice of Ben Whishaw) in a chase involving a moving train in “Paddington 2.”