MOVIE: Paddington 2 is more than bearable movie

LAST week in our movie review we brought you ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ from the director of ‘The Lobster’. 

This week, to continue the theme of animals at the cinema, we bring you a talking bear. 

‘Paddington 2’ heralds the welcome return of the Peruvian teddy who left the South American wildernesses to forge a new life in London. 

The first movie was a real fish (or should that be bear) out of water affair, and Paddington's adaptation to life with a normal English family brought with it much opportunity for humour. 

Two challenges this new film faces are the inability to retrace such fertile comedic ground, and the fact that Paddy is now older, and as a result less cute. 

The movie opens with a flashback to our hero’s original separation from his aunty and uncle in deepest darkest Peru. 

Fast forward to modern day UK and Paddington is concerned that his aunt's birthday is quickly approaching, remembering his promise to send word of his progress and pictures of his new home. When he discovers a special pop up book of London for sale, he resolves to raise the money required to buy it and send it to his favourite furry relative. 

But when the book is stolen, Paddington finds himself as suspect number one, now forced on a mission to find the identity of the real thief. 

The movie is stuffed with clever and funny set pieces, many of which are dialogue free. It's also jam packed with English comedic talent and there are plenty of smile inducing cameos to enjoy. 

But the real show stopping performance is delivered by Hugh Grant, who like a fine wine seems to be improving with age, as an English version of the evil actor from ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’. 

The screening we attended was full of kids who lapped up the more juvenile content but there is plenty here for adults too with an ending that pulls at the heartstrings. 

We score Paddington 2 a more than bearable, 4 out of 5 stars.