Paddington 2 at Waterside Arts Centre
Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
Sweet, funny and appreciated across the age-spectrum, 2014’s live action Paddington was a far better film than it had any right, or need, to be. Imagine the surprise then, that director Paul King managed to nail the notoriously difficult sequel and produce a follow-up that more than lives up to the original. Paddington 2 doubles down on the original’s ideals of inclusion and acceptance, makes a decent case for prison reform, and ends with a good old fashioned action set-piece on a train. Amongst a who’s-who of British and Irish talent, Hugh Grant reminds everyone of his considerable talents as he sends himself up as a dastardly villain-cum-actor and Ben Whishaw returns as the eponymous bear. Sneak in a marmalade sandwich for maximum enjoyment.
