Paddington 2 | Sunday Observer

Paddington 2

17 March, 2019

The live-action animated film Paddington 2 is directed by Paul King and stars Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington Brown, Sally Hawkins as Mary Brown, Hugh Bonneville as Henry Brown, Hugh Grant as Phoenix Buchanan, Madeleine Harris as Judy Brown, Samuel Joslin as Jonathan Brown, Julie Walters as Mrs. Bird, Jim Broadbent as Samuel Gruber, Peter Capaldi as Mr. Curry and Tom Conti as Judge Gerald Biggleswade.

The film begins with a flashback into Paddington Bear’s origins in the jungles of Peru, where as an orphaned bear cub he was adopted by the bears Lucy and Pastuzo. Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo send Paddington to London where he is found by the Brown family in Paddington Station and is adopted by them. Mary and Henry Brown live with their two children Jonathan and Judy and their housekeeper Mrs. Bird in Notting Hill, London. Paddington is an anthropomorphic bear who is sweet natured and lovable, and is liked by everyone in his neighbourhood except the nasty Mr. Curry who causes problems for him.

The film revolves around Paddington wanting to buy his Aunt Lucy a birthday present and decides on a pop-up book of London in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop. But Paddington cannot afford the pop-up book and decides to find a job to pay for it. Paddington finding a job at a barber’s saloon and then as a window cleaner creates much of the comedy in the film.

As the film progresses, the audience is introduced to the villain Phoenix Buchanan, an actor past his prime who steals the pop-up book because he knows that it provides the clues to the location of a hidden treasure which would fund his dream of staging a solo play in West End. But Paddington is falsely accused of the theft and put in prison.

Ben Whishaw, an alumna of the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, provides a beautifully modulated and mellow voice which is perfect for the character of Paddington. Sally Hawkins, also a RADA alumna who speaks English with a beautiful intonation, gives an understated yet compelling performance as Mary Brown in a role that downplays her talent. The handsome Hugh Grant gives a brilliant performance as Phoenix Buchanan and Hugh Bonneville gives a good performance as Henry Brown. Paddington 2 is a beautifully made film which is as good as its prequel Paddington.

Comments