Paddington 2

When the trailer for the first Paddington came out, I remember turning to The Girl and saying, “This looks shit.” Cut to a few months later and the film is five star feted. My hero Mark Kermode has described it  ‘a family treat.” And my loved one declares, “You were completely wrong: Paddington is amazing!” Like Michael Fish and the great storm, I’m question my prophesy. I know I must prepare to eat humble pie. (Oh, how I hate humble pie! The crust is soggy. The filling dry. The whole combination an abomination. Not something to savour, but masticate. Humble pie, oh it's the worst!)

At Christmas she bought it for me on DVD, and it was every bit as funny, heartwarming and beautiful as she and the critics said. Also, at a time when refugees were being castigated for having the gall to leave their war-torn homes for places where they weren’t under constant threat of death; here was a story of an immigrant being accepted in Britain.

Written by Michael Bond, following the Second World War, Paddington Bear found celebrity early. Such was their success, Bond was able to retire from his BBC work (he was once a camera man on Blue Peter) to devote time to writing. The first film is similar to Bond’s first story in that it describes how Paddington arrived in London. 

Born in darkest Peru, Aunt Lucy sends him to the UK in hope of a better life. Eventually, he’s found at Paddington station by the Brown family, who come to christen him with the aforementioned. It’s not long before Paddington is embroiled in Crocodile Dundee escapades, having to contend with escalators and train systems. Although he gets himself into scrapes, the family love him for the flavour he brings to their lives. To all extents and purposes, it’s an advert for immigration, promoting the notion that Britain benefits from open borders.  (I do worry Paddington worries too much about assimilating though. First, there’s his honey-coated British accent: what’s happened to his Spanish? Then, there’s the blue duffel coat: what’s become of his colourful South American identity? Finally, there’s the marmalade sandwiches- this is a British citizenship test too far. No one born outside of this country should have to eat marmalade. I know Paddington is content with his British life, but I do hope he visits the Peruvian restaurants in Soho from time to time, just to avoid being called an Uncle Tom – or the equivalent – by his birthland.) 

Michael Bond and bear.

It’s funny isn’t it, deconstructing children’s stories? A lot of alternative comedians could get at least twenty minutes out of doing a routine on Paddington as product of cultural colonialism. (I’ve chosen a fairly mainstream subject for today’s blog, but through this section I’ve still found a way to alienate the public. I do it mainly because I worry that I’m just a successful blog post away from being asked to appear on I’m A Celebrity. If vlogger Jack Maynard can go into the jungle, then I need to do everything in my power to diminish my online appeal. I appreciate my brand is strong, so it’s important I maximise these bracketed diversions to stop it growing any stronger.)

Paddington 2 is the sequel to Paddington. (This pointing-out the bleeding-obvious joke is the kind of thing that will keep the reality TV execs at bay.) And you know what: Paddington 2 is the funniest film I’ve seen this year. I loved The Big Sick and enjoyed Get Out, but Paddington 2 is in a class of its own. And I know what detractors will say: they’ll see it's a kids film, it can’t be that funny. They’ll say you’re nothing more than a kidult, enjoying childish movies in a hopeless attempt to reclaim your youth. They’ll say you’re an idiot. Because these people aren’t intelligent enough to come up with three coherent arguments. Well, those fictitious people, contrived by me to add drama into the piece, are wrong.

Paddington 2 is written by Paul King and Simon Farnaby, two creative that worked together on The Mighty Boosh. (Interested now, aren’t you hipsters?) King directed 20 Boosh episodes and Farnaby featured in them. With Farnaby having appeared in Horrible Histories, Dectectorists and House of Fools, he’s a man that knows his onions. Together, the pair have woven a British comedy that has slapstick for children and sight gags for adults. With its farcical fun and literary puns, it reminded me of Nick Park’s Wallace and Gromit, only here you have a greater reservoir of feeling to go alongside it.

King and Farnaby.

The sequel begins with Paddington happy at home. He’s loved by his family and by the community. Everything appears to be going to plan. Yes, he worries about Aunt Lucy in Peru, but with her birthday on the way he’s sure he can find a present that will show how much she means to him. Visiting an antique shop, he sources a beautiful pop-up book that showcases London’s landmarks. Aunt Lucy always wanted to see London – here’s her opportunity. So Paddington must do what all bears must when saving for a gift: undertake a series of low-paid jobs to secure the necessary income. Catastrophe inevitable ensues in the barbershop, where his approach to male grooming comes out of the sheep shearer’s manual. A window-cleaning job is more up his street though, as he puts paw and backside into making it a success. With the money earned, he can now afford the book. But fate has a wicked way of conspiring against talking bears. Earlier at the opening of a steam fair, Paddington announced to ribbon-cutter Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant) his gift plans. Little did Paddington know, but fading actor Buchanan wanted the book for himself. Now he knows where it is, he can steal it from right under the bear’s nose. This is what he does. In the ensuing foot chase, Paddington is arrested for the break in. Paddington has been framed, caught in a bear-trap of a thespian’s making.

Hugh Grant

The scenes of Paddington in prison are priceless. Again, the best of British comedy comes out to play with Tom Davis (Murder on Successville), Jamie Demetriou (Fleabag) and Noah Taylor (Submarine) all providing hilarious support. Most funny though is Brendan Gleeson’s Knuckles McGinty. Knuckles is the head chef and chief bruiser of the prison. Behind bars, his word is law. The slop that he serves would leave Oliver begging, “No more.” His cooking is a crime worse than murder. Paddington armed only with a marmalade sandwich manages to win him round. The camaraderie that ensues is mined for wondrous laughs. Just hearing a prison hardman say "chocolate roulade" was comedy to my ears.

Behind bars.

Hugh Grant as the villain is perfectly cast too. Being a master of disguise, he steals the book in the guise of Dickens’ Magwitch. Later, we find he’s a master of accents too, jumping between Hamlet, Poirot and Macbeth. Often Grant plays the bumbling fop; here, he demonstrates versatility, playing more personalities in one movie than he has in his career. Stay to the closing credits too, otherwise you’ll miss further proof of his comedic range.

I loved what Simon Farnaby and Paul King did with Paddington 2. It truly is a film that walks that Pixar tightrope of being child and adult friendly. If you have a family, going is a no brainer. It’s after all, a more wholesome bear movie than Ted. If you don’t have kids, go anyway. I promise you will laugh all the way through – maybe have a little cry too. For me, Paddington 2 joins The Godfather 2 in being better than rarest of things: a film better than its predecessor.

Quite simply, Farnaby and Bird have made an offering you can’t refuse.

Paddington 2 is in cinemas now.