Review: Paddington 2

Well, well, a sequel that is even more fun than its predecessor. It doesn't often happen but Paddington 2 manages to shift the stale marmalade sandwiches from 2014 to deliver a pacy, enjoyable adventure, which boasts a cameo cast that is like a who's who of British acting talent.

Paddington 2 review

When you witness some of the absolute dross that passes for 'family entertainment' these days, it's reassuring to see something as lovingly crafted as this. The next question? Can they do it a third time? Well, that remains to be seen. Meanwhile, this will do very nicely indeed.

In Paddington 2, Hugh Grant plays a villainous, ageing west London-based actor whose best years are behind him. So absolutely not like the real-life Grant, whose roles have actually been rather interesting since a potential career derailment 20 years ago. Will the nation's favourite bear give Grant's Phoenix Buchanan a very hard stare? Also joining Norton is the triple Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson.

How Grant & Bonneville got to grips with Paddington 2

If proof were needed that good friendships withstand the passage of time, look no further than actors Hugh Grant and Hugh Bonneville.

Paddington 2 - bear-faced chic and lots of it

Superior sequel features terrific slapstick and a very funny turn from Hugh Grant.

Paddington 2: so good it bears watching twice

They've done it again! Given the first Paddington film earnt $268 million worldwide (from a $38.5m budget), all this needed to do was have the beloved duffel-coated bear show up and bump into the furniture.

Paddington 2: a funny and wondrous adventure

These days, CGI looks worn out. Deeply concerned with realistic and explosive tendencies, no thought is placed into the aesthetic and the beautiful. But while millions are spent on digitally removing Henry Cavill's 'tache, writer-director Paul King re-creates animation magic for Paddington 2.

Paddington 2 review

Hugh Grant is on top form as a cravat-wearing villain who frames Paddington for theft in a follow-up that lives up to Michael Bond's evergreen original.

Another wonderful fantasy from Aardman Animations, in which the Hugh Grant-voiced Pirate Captain sets sail to beat rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) to the pirate of the year award. When he happens on Charles Darwin (David Tennant), all sorts of landlubberly machinations threaten to sink his plan. A witty stop-motion adventure.