Paddington 2 2017

    The Brown's are happy to have Paddington living with them in London.  His Aunt Lucy wanted to come to London but she suddenly she had a bear cub to raise.  Now it’s time for her 100^th birthday and Paddington wants to get her a very nice gift.  Mr. Gruber has a unique pop-up book that would be the perfect gift but Paddington will need jobs to raise enough money.  He starts with window washing in the neighborhood.

     This is funny from the beginning to the end!!  There were so many times I said, “This is so ridiculous!!”  Paddington has a LOT of experiences trying to earn money to buy the gift for Aunt Lucy.  Then, he has MORE experiences regarding the pop-up book.  He has such admiration and love for Aunt Lucy that the gift needed to be perfect and the pop-up book seems just right.  He feels a sadness that she didn’t get to come to London and now she’s in a retirement home for elderly bears!!  4 1/2* (I loved this movie)    

   

103 min, Animation directed by Paul King with Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Madeleine Harries, Samuel Joslin, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Marie-France Alvarez.

Note:  Imdb 7.9 out of 10, 100% critic 88% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 121 reviews, Metacritic 88 out of 100 with 38 critics 8.2 out of 10 with 157 reviews

Special Note:  Michael Bond was the creator of Paddington Bear and he passed away at the age of 91 just six months before the release of this film.  His last book was released in April 2017 and the books have sold more than 35 million copies.  The 2014 Paddington was the highest grossing independent family film and the highest grossing film in the UK of 2014.  The pop-up-book of London was released for a limited edition collectors item with six scenes taken from the film.